The biggest rise in the rankings comes on the back of Angola's performance, coached by the Portuguese Pedro Gonçalves, in the African Cup of Nations (CAN2023), a competition in which the Angolans reached the quarter-finals, eliminated by 'vice' Nigeria.
The Nigerians, who reached the final and were defeated by Ivory Coast (1-1, 4-2 on penalties), have Portuguese coach José Peseiro.
The performance at CAN2023 placed Nigeria in 28th place in the FIFA rankings, with an increase of 14 positions, while the champion Ivory Coast appears in 39th place, with an increase of ten positions.
Cape Verde, which also reached the quarter-finals of CAN2023, rose to 65th place and continues to be the best Portuguese-speaking African team, with Mozambique rising to 110th, Guinea-Bissau falling to 118th and São Tomé and Príncipe remains in 191st.
The Asian Cup, also played at the beginning of the year, also had repercussions on the ranking, with champion Qatar having the second biggest increase: it now occupies 37th place in the ranking, 21 places above its previous position.
Among the teams coached by Portuguese, Paulo Bento's United Arab Emirates are in 69th place, Paulo Duarte's Togo is 116th, and Rui Bento's Kuwait is 137th.
It should also be noted that Portugal maintained seventh position in the FIFA rankings.
The ranking has no changes in the top-10, with leadership in the 'hands' of world champion Argentina, followed by runner-up France, while England completes the podium, with third place.
- FIFA Ranking:
1. (1) Argentina, 1,855.2 points.
2. (2) France, 1,845.44.
3. (3) England, 1,800.05.
4. (4) Belgium, 1,798.46.
5. (5) Brazil, 1,784.09.
6. (6) Netherlands, 1,745.48.
7. (7) Portugal, 1,745.06.
8. (8) Spain, 1,732.64.
9. (9) Italy, 1,718.82.
10. (10) Croatia, 1,717.57.
(...)
65. (73) Cape Verde, 1,377.06.
93. (117) Angola, 1,238.11.
110. (111) Mozambique, 1,184.72.
103. (110) Guinea-Bissau, 1,164.01.
191. (191) São Tomé and Príncipe, 888.94.
187. (187) Macau, 896.62.
200. (200) Timor-Leste, 843.4
