Rabat – Morocco’s national football team has gained four places in the global FIFA ranking, occupying 24th place globally and ranking second in Africa.
The ranking, which FIFA updated on February 10, shows that the Atlas Lions gained 17.49 points, rising to 1,547 points from 1,530 points and jumping by 4 places compared to the last ranking.
On the continental level, Senegal moved up two places in the global ranking to take 18th position, becoming first in Africa. Last week, the Teranga Lions claimed their first-ever victory in the AFCON final, scoring three goals in penalty shootouts against Egypt.
Morocco comes second in Africa, followed by Nigeria (32nd globally), Egypt (34th), Tunisia (36th), Cameroon (38th), Algeria (43rd), Mali (48th), Ivory Coast (51st), and Burkina Faso (56th).
The Atlas Lions unchanged rank in Africa is due to their place as quarter-finalists at the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations.
At the global level, the football hierarchy remains unchanged, still dominated by Belgium, ahead of Brazil, France, Argentina, and England.
The Atlas Lions are scheduled to face the Democratic Republic of Congo on March 26 and 29 in the qualifying playoff round for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 22.
The first leg is set at the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa, DR Congo’s capital, while the second leg is set to take place three days later at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
FIFA, however, announced on February 8 its verdict regarding incidents that were reported to have taken place after the quarter-finals game between Morocco and Algeria at the Arab Nations Cup in Qatar in December 2021.
The decision came following Moroccan fans’ misbehavior who reportedly uttered “racist slogans” during the game.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee charged the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRFM) 20,000 Swiss francs (€19,000), and said the Moroccan football federation should pay the fine “within 30 days of notification of the decision.”
The committee also underlined that Morocco must limit the number of fans during the playoff game against DR Congo.
Read Also: CAF Sanctions Morocco, Egypt For Post-Match Brawl
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