Mohamed Ouahbi dismisses Morocco ranking concerns as AFCON title remains priority

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi says winning the Africa Cup of Nations is more important than where the Atlas Lions sit in the FIFA world rankings.

Morocco briefly moved up to fifth in the world after opening their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with victories over Gabon and Lesotho, matching the highest ranking ever achieved by an African national team.

However, their 1-1 draw with Mali in Sunday’s friendly saw them drop to seventh in the live rankings, with Portugal and Brazil moving ahead of them.

The latest positions remain provisional until FIFA publishes its next official ranking, but Ouahbi insists the movement will not distract Morocco from their main objective.

“We were happy to reach fifth place in the world, but our goal is to win AFCON. I don’t want us to become preoccupied with the ranking,” he said, according to El Botola.

Morocco’s AFCON target remains unchanged

Ouahbi’s comments underline the Atlas Lions’ focus on winning major silverware rather than chasing a particular position in the global rankings.

Morocco have made a strong start under the coach, winning their first two AFCON 2027 qualifiers 2-0 against Gabon and Lesotho before ending the international window with a draw against Mali.

Their fall in the live rankings therefore does not represent a dramatic change in their recent form.

The FIFA ranking is calculated using an Elo-based system, with points gained or lost depending on factors including the strength of the opposition, the importance of a match, the result and the expected outcome.

Friendly matches also carry less weight than competitive fixtures, meaning Morocco’s draw with Mali can influence their ranking without necessarily providing a complete assessment of their progress.

Ranking movement does not change Morocco’s ambitions

Morocco’s position also depends on results involving other highly ranked nations.

Their move from fifth to seventh followed the Mali draw and changes involving teams around them, including Portugal and Brazil.

That means a team can remain unbeaten while still moving down the rankings, depending on the results and ranking points of other nations.

For Morocco, the bigger measure will come when the stakes are highest.

The Atlas Lions will be looking to build on their strong AFCON qualifying start as they pursue another major African title, with Ouahbi making clear that their ultimate ambition is to lift the trophy rather than simply occupy a place near the top of the FIFA rankings.