Nigeria emerge highest-ranked AFCON team after Morocco’s exit
Nigeria’s Super Eagles emerged the highest-ranked team at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations following South Africa’s surprise 2-0 win over Morocco on Tuesday night.
Ahead of the encounter, four of the continent’s top five teams – Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia had been eliminated from AFCON.
Intrestingly, Morocco, the first African country to reach the semis of the World Cup, were favourites to beat the Bafana Bafana, who managed to progress from the group stage.
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However, second-half goals from the duo of Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena helped South Africans claim a memorable win over the Atlas Lions.
With Morocco’s elimination, Nigeria are now the No. 1 team at the AFCON.
The Super Eagles were the sixth-best team at the start of the competition, but out of the eight teams left, the three-time African champs are now the highest-ranked team according to the FIFA rankings, followed by Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, South Africa, Congo DR, Cape Verde, Guinea, and Angola.