If FIFA rankings were to decide the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trajectory, Morocco would have played the final against Senegal, with The Atlas Lions winning the coveted trophy.
This is because Morocco are Africa's best-ranked football team on the continent, and number 11 globally.
According to FIFA's latest rankings dated December 22, the 2025 AFCON hosts have more than 1,700 points, placing them behind Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia in that order.
Senegal, who rank second in Africa, are number 19 globally, with slightly below 1,650 points.
Run of form
FIFA uses a relatively complex points-calculation formula that was revised in September 2023. However, in simple terms, the world football governing body ranks teams based on their recent run of form and total points earned in competitive matches across a given period.
Using FIFA's parameters to measure form, Morocco would have played against Senegal in the finals of the 2025 AFCON, and gone ahead to lift the trophy at home, marking the second time The Atlas Lions would be crowned champions after their triumph in 1976.
That path to the finals may still be possible for either side, given that both Morocco and Senegal have already secured their spots in the round of 16.
However, as it is widely known among fans, football hardly follows a straight line, and upsets are common in the beautiful game.
Algeria, Egypt would have been other semi-finalists
Based on FIFA rankings, Algeria, who rank third in Africa and 34th globally, would take the third spot at the ongoing AFCON tournament, while Egypt, who place fourth in Africa and 35th in the world, would be the fourth semi-finalist.
Nigeria would round out AFCON's five best teams, ranking 5th on the continent, and 38th in the world, with slightly over 1,500 points.
The other teams that would have made it, at least to the quarter-final stage, are Tunisia (sixth in Africa and 41st globally), Côte d'Ivoire (seventh in Africa and 42nd globally), and Mali (eighth in Africa and 53rd globally).
According to FIFA, Mali had 1,455 points as of December 22, 2025. It is, however, important to note that this a hypothetical projection, based on FIFA rankings, and that AFCON's schedules could make some of the teams meet much earlier in the elimination stages.
The two other teams in Africa's top 10 are the Democratic Republic of Congo (56 globally) and Cameroon (57 globally).
Top African football teams, according to FIFA:
1. Morocco – 1716.34 points
2. Senegal – 1648.07
3. Algeria – 1517.68
4. Egypt – 1515.18
5. Nigeria – 1502.46
6. Tunisia – 1494.86
7. Côte d'Ivoire – 1489.59
8. Mali – 1455.03
9. DRC – 1444.16
10. Cameroon – 1440.43
