Published: October 8, 2026
Key Facts
- Morocco is Africa's best football team in 2026, ranked 7th in the world with 1,805.34 FIFA points (FIFA Men's World Ranking, October 7, 2026).
- Senegal (18th in the world) and Egypt (25th) complete the continental top three.
- Nigeria (30th) is the only one of Africa's seven highest-ranked teams that missed the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Mali and South Africa were the biggest movers in the October update, climbing seven and six places respectively.
- The next FIFA ranking update is scheduled for November 18, 2026, after the next round of 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
| Rank | Country | FIFA world rank | Points | Source & date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco | 7th | 1,805.34 | FIFA, Oct 7 2026 |
| 2 | Senegal | 18th | 1,648.84 | FIFA, Oct 7 2026 |
| 3 | Egypt | 25th | 1,585.86 | FIFA, Oct 7 2026 |
| 4 | Algeria | 28th | 1,574.77 | FIFA, Oct 7 2026 |
| 5 | Côte d'Ivoire | 29th | 1,569.32 | FIFA, Oct 7 2026 |
| 6 | Nigeria | 30th | 1,567.97 | FIFA, Oct 7 2026 |
| 7 | DR Congo | 40th | 1,506.37 | FIFA, Oct 7 2026 |
| 8 | Cameroon | 42nd | 1,485.30 | FIFA, Oct 7 2026 |
| 9 | Mali | 47th | 1,474.14 | FIFA, Oct 7 2026 |
| 10 | South Africa | 48th | 1,468.88 | FIFA, Oct 7 2026 |
Morocco's 1,805.34 points put them more than 150 points clear of Senegal — the largest gap between any two neighbours on the African list.
Selected Details
1. Morocco
7th in the world, 1,805.34 points. The Atlas Lions remain Africa's undisputed number one after a 2026 World Cup quarter-final run, and their 7th-place world ranking is among the highest ever achieved by an African team. A 1-1 friendly draw with Mali in Tangier cost them a place globally, but no continental rival is close on points.
2. Senegal
18th in the world, 1,648.84 points. The Teranga Lions hold second place in Africa with room to spare, nearly 65 points ahead of Egypt. Senegal were among the ten African sides at the 2026 World Cup and remain the continent's most consistent tournament team.
3. Egypt
25th in the world, 1,585.86 points. The Pharaohs climbed into Africa's top three on the back of a strong 2026, though a 1-0 home defeat to South Africa in Cairo during the October window showed the chasing pack is closing in.
4. Algeria
28th in the world, 1,574.77 points. Algeria sit just eleven points behind Egypt and five ahead of Côte d'Ivoire in one of the tightest clusters on the list. The Fennecs were World Cup participants in 2026.
5. Côte d'Ivoire
29th in the world, 1,569.32 points. The reigning African champions (AFCON 2023 winners) round out the continental top five, less than two points ahead of Nigeria — a gap that could flip in the November ranking.
6. Nigeria
30th in the world, 1,567.97 points. The Super Eagles are the painful outlier of this ranking: the only one of Africa's seven highest-ranked teams that failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. On ranking points alone they remain a continental heavyweight.
7. DR Congo
40th in the world, 1,506.37 points. The Leopards were one of Africa's ten representatives at the 2026 World Cup and sit comfortably clear of Cameroon in seventh.
8. Cameroon
42nd in the world, 1,485.30 points. The Indomitable Lions hold eighth place in Africa, eleven points ahead of the fast-climbing Mali.
9. Mali
47th in the world, 1,474.14 points. The Eagles were the biggest climbers in Africa in the October update, rising seven places after holding Morocco to a 1-1 draw in Tangier — a result that earned them significant ranking points.
10. South Africa
48th in the world, 1,468.88 points. Bafana Bafana climbed six places to return to the world's top 50 for the first time in years, powered by a famous 1-0 win over Egypt in Cairo. Only nine African nations now sit above them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which African country has the best football team in 2026?
Morocco. The Atlas Lions are ranked 7th in the world with 1,805.34 FIFA points (October 7, 2026), making them Africa's top team by a margin of more than 150 points over second-placed Senegal.
How does FIFA rank national teams?
FIFA awards ranking points for every international match, weighted by the match's importance (friendlies count least, World Cup matches most), the strength of the opposition, and the regional confederation. Points accumulate over a rolling window, so consistent results against strong teams move a nation up.
Did Nigeria qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
No. Nigeria are the only one of Africa's seven highest-ranked teams that missed the 2026 tournament — a failure that stands out sharply against their 30th-place world ranking.
Which African teams climbed the most in the October 2026 ranking?
Mali (up seven places to 47th) and South Africa (up six to 48th) were Africa's biggest movers, both boosted by standout October-window results — Mali's draw with Morocco and South Africa's win in Cairo over Egypt.
When is the next FIFA ranking published?
November 18, 2026, after the next international window and the third and fourth rounds of 2027 AFCON qualifiers — with Algeria, Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria separated by fewer than seven points, the order behind Egypt could change.
Data Sources
- FIFA Men's World Ranking, published October 7, 2026 (via Foot Africa) — foot-africa.com
- Foot Africa, "Live FIFA ranking: which are the 10 best African national teams in October 2026?" — foot-africa.com
- The Profiler, "Only nine African countries ranked above Bafana Bafana" — theprofiler.co.za
- iDiski Times, "Latest FIFA Rankings After 2026 World Cup Revealed" — idiskitimes.co.za
- All Nigeria Soccer, "Fifa rankings: All of Africa's top seven qualified for 2026 World Cup except Super Eagles" — allnigeriasoccer.com
Methodology
The ranking is the FIFA Men's World Ranking published on October 7, 2026 — the official, points-based measure of national-team strength. Teams are ordered by their African rank (world rank shown for context); the points column is FIFA's computed total. This edition reflects results through the October international window, including 2027 AFCON qualifiers and friendlies. Rankings move monthly, so figures are a snapshot, not a permanent verdict — the next update is scheduled for November 18, 2026.
