by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – NEWLY-crowned African champions, Senegal, have more to celebrate after making a significant impact on the January 2026 edition of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) rankings.
Senegal are now 12th, up seven places, scaling unprecedented heights
Despite suffering heartbreak in the final, hosts Morocco (8th, up 3 places) can take comfort from returning to the top ten for the first time since April 1998, reaching their best-ever position.
Spain retains first position. FIFA world champions Argentina are second and France third.
Morocco’s rise has come at a cost for Croatia (11th, down 1), who have dropped out of the top 10, as well as for Belgium (9th, down 1) and Germany (10th, down 1).
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) bronze medallists Nigeria (now 26th) and quarter-finalists Cameroon (now 45th) each shot up an unparalleled 12 places.
Additional ranking success stories served up by the African showpiece include notable rises for Algeria (28th, up 6), semi-finalists Egypt (31st, up 4), dethroned holders Ivory Coast (37th, up 5) and Democratic Republic of Congo (48th, up 8).
The AFCON has also had an impact on the size of the respective confederations’ contingents in and around the upper echelons, with CAF now boasting nine nations in the top 50 – two more than at the end of 2025
Among the other talking points, Kosovo (79th, up 1) have yet again climbed into uncharted territory, inching up on this occasion thanks to Gabon falling eight places to 86th, whereas Costa Rica (51st, down 2) and Uzbekistan (52nd, also down 2) have both dropped out of the top 50.
– CAJ News