Morocco remain 8th on FIFA Rankings despite AFCON 2025 ruling

Morocco’s Atlas Lions have held on to 8th place in the latest FIFA rankings despite their controversial AFCON final triumph over Senegal, a result many expected would propel them into the top five globally.

While the ranking remains unchanged, Morocco continues to assert its dominance on the continent, maintaining its position as Africa’s top-ranked national team ahead of Senegal.

The development follows the dramatic and chaotic AFCON final on January 18, where Morocco were awarded victory by forfeit.

FIFA’s official records reflect the outcome as a forfeited win for Morocco, reinforcing the Confederation of African Football’s ruling after the match descended into disorder.

However, the decision has since sparked a fierce legal and political backlash from Senegal.

The Senegalese Football Federation has escalated the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, challenging CAF’s verdict. At the heart of the dispute is CAF’s decision to declare Morocco winners following an appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which cited breaches of Articles 82 and 84 of CAF regulations.

According to these provisions, any team that withdraws from a match or refuses to continue without the referee’s authorization is deemed to have forfeited and is subsequently disqualified. The rules further stipulate that such matches should be awarded 3-0 to the opposing side unless a more favorable scoreline had already been recorded.

Senegal has strongly rejected this interpretation, accusing CAF of bias and corruption. The situation has since taken a political dimension, with government officials condemning the ruling as an attempt to strip the national team of its rightful title. Describing the decision as “unprecedented,” Senegal insists it undermines the fundamental principles of sporting fairness and ethics.

The federation has gone further to claim that CAF’s actions have caused significant damage to its own credibility, calling for an independent international investigation into alleged corruption within the organization.

The controversy stems from scenes of chaos during the final, when Senegalese fans invaded the pitch and clashed with security personnel, disrupting the game.

Tensions escalated further when head coach Pape Thiaw instructed his players to leave the field in protest after the referee awarded Morocco a penalty deemed legitimate under the rules.

Senegal’s refusal to resume play, even after interventions from top officials, ultimately led to CAF’s disciplinary decision.

With the case now in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAF has stepped back, awaiting the final verdict. Meanwhile, Morocco has shifted focus back to preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The Atlas Lions recently recorded a 1-1 draw against Ecuador and secured a 2-1 victory over Paraguay in international friendlies. Under new head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, the team appears determined to build momentum as they set their sights on making a strong impact on the global stage following their AFCON success.