Portugal's fall the secret word: Morocco cements its global standing

Morocco received two valuable gifts from Brazil and Portugal, after the former's surprise defeat to Japan in a friendly, and the latter's loss to Denmark in the UEFA Nations League, helped change the shape of the race for the top places in the world rankings, handing the Atlas Lions a guaranteed seat among the top five.

Morocco thumped Niger 5-0 on Friday evening in the third round of qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, and the result carried them above both Brazil and Portugal in the FIFA world rankings.

The Atlas Lions climbed to fifth on 1805 points, helped by Brazil's three-goal defeat to Japan and Portugal's heavy 4-1 loss to Denmark on Saturday evening. Morocco had trailed Portugal by only half a point under the current FIFA calculations. That defeat dropped Portugal's tally to 1797.6 and shunted them two places down to seventh.

Mohamed Ouahbi's side still face a fresh test against Niger next Tuesday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. A repeat win would hand them another boost on the global stage.

Beat Niger again and Morocco strengthen their position in the rankings outright, with no need to wait on the result of the friendly between Brazil and Singapore.

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Morocco reached fifth in the FIFA men's world rankings in October 2026, matching the best African ranking on record. Nigeria set that mark when the Super Eagles hit the same spot in April 1994.

The run came off the back of wins in September and October, with the Atlas Lions seeing off Gabon in the first round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and then Lesotho in the second.

A huge leap for Morocco since the Qatar World Cup achievement

Before the World Cup in Qatar, Morocco sat 22nd in the world. By the end of the 2022 tournament, the Atlas Lions had surged to 11th.

They slipped only as far as 14th after that, where they ended 2024. A revival followed. Morocco finished 2025 back in 11th, then rose to eighth in January 2026, their first appearance in the FIFA top 10 since April 1998, when they stood 10th.

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journalism and writing are a passion before they are a profession. Since taking my first steps down this path in late 2010, I have been weaving my stories across the pages of Egyptian and Arab websites. I don’t view sports in general—and soccer in particular—as merely a game, but rather as a canvas of life that reflects the pulse of societies and carries within it social and cultural stories that intertwine with the threads of politics to shape people’s consciousness.

I delve into covering and analyzing soccer from multiple angles: I cover the game from multiple angles where storytelling meets analysis, and where the pitch connects to broader social and cultural narratives.

Over time and as my experience grew, my passion expanded to draw connections between the economics of the game, modern technology, and cryptocurrencies—all of which have become part of a soccer industry that extends far beyond the boundaries of the field.

My experience has spanned several prominent Arab outlets: in Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, such as Goal (Saudi edition) and Koora, where I have worked as a multi-tasking desk editor since 2019."I don't just cover stories, I find them where others aren't looking, then reshape them until they're worth reading.

with analytical depth and a human touch to deliver an unforgettable story to the reader.

My Story with Soccer

My passion for soccer began early, specifically at the age of six during the 1994 World Cup. The atmosphere at home was different; the whole family was awake to watch the matches even though they were broadcast at dawn, and that is where my true passion was born. I was captivated by Romário’s mesmerizing skills, amazed by Thomas Brulin, and impressed by the physical and technical prowess of the Nigerian national team led by the late Rashidi Yakini, while the image of Roberto Baggio missing his penalty kick in the final remains etched in my memory as the first dramatic moment I experienced with the game.

As the years passed and my fascination with international soccer grew, certain matches remained defining moments in my football education, such as the 2001 UEFA Cup final between Liverpool and Spain’s Alavés—that wild 5-4 clash whose intensity didn’t subside until the 117th minute, when an own goal sealed the title for the Reds, cementing it in my memory as an unforgettable match.

My Best Soccer Memories

Unforgettable moments include Real Madrid’s 2002 Champions League victory, Liverpool’s historic 2005 final, and Egypt’s 2006, 2008, and 2010 African Cup of Nations triumphs under Hassan Shehata.

My All-Time Team

Buffon

Cafu - Paolo Maldini - Ramos - Roberto Carlos

Zinedine Zidane - Iniesta

Diego Maradona

Lionel Messi - Ronaldo “The Phenomenon” - Cristiano Ronaldo

My Favorite Articles:

The Ronaldo Mystery... Death in a Foreign Land!

Third dimension.. Barefoot... Has Messi Really Settled

The Debate Over the Greatest of All Time?

(2) Messi Chases Pelé... Has the Debate Over the Greatest of All Time Really Been Settled?

Third dimension: The Terrifying Test... Salah Inherits the Crown of the Seven Years