28 Mar 2020 – Olympic Games-bound Zambia are this edition’s highest climbersin the FIFA Women’s World Rankings released by the World governing football body on Friday, 27 March 2020.
Following a busy start to the year, that included a shock preliminary triumph over Cameroon, Zambia are up by six spots to 100th in the world and 12th on the continent. They
Qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after 4-4 aggregate scoreline over two legs (winning on away goal), helping them emerge as the most improved national team in the last two months and earned 31 points.
At the top, Banyana Banyana made a significant climb of two spots – from 55th to 53rd – behind Nigeria (who moved from 38th from 39th) in the world.
On the continent the Super Falcons of Nigeria lead the way, followed by Cameroon with South Africa in third place. Completing the top five are Ghana and Ivory Coast.
In the world rankings other nations to have made moves are: France (3rd, up 1), Brazil (8th, up 1), Korea DPR (10th, up 1) and Korea Republic (18th, up 2) edged upwards in the top 20, while Slovenia (49th, up 1) and Jamaica (50th, up 1) reached their highest-ever positions. In truth, these gains were often indebted as much to others’ struggles as to the rising team’s successes. Korea DPR leapfrogged Japan (11th, down 1), for example, due to the Nadeshiko suffering three straight losses at the SheBelieves Cup, while Slovenia and Jamaica advanced thanks to that surprise qualifying defeat inflicted on Cameroon (51st, down 2).
At the very top, USA’s (1st, unchanged) long reign continues after the world champions lifted the SheBelieves Cup on home soil. But Germany (2nd, unchanged) at least narrowed the gap after impressing at the Algarve Cup gaining 12 Ranking points – more than any other top-10 team in this edition.
The global order also welcomed its newest addition, with Gambia (113th) increasing the number of teams ranked to 159 – the second-highest number on record.
Banyana Banyana remain third on the continent and 53rd in the world – just behind leaders Nigeria and Cameroon.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking will be published on 26 June 2020.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking will be published on 26 June 2020.
FACTS:
| Leader | USA (unchanged) |
| Moved into top ten | Korea DPR (10th, up 1) |
| Moved out of top ten | Japan (11th, down 1) |
| Matches played in total | 106 |
| Most matches played | Mexico (9) |
| Biggest move by points | Zambia (plus 31) |
| Biggest move by ranks | Zambia (100th, up 6) |
| Biggest drop by points | Panama (minus 36) |
| Biggest drop by ranks | Panama (60th, down 7) |
| Newly ranked teams | Armenia, Gambia (first entry), Senegal, Tunisia |
| Teams no longer ranked due to prolonged inactivity | None |
| FIFA World Rankings | ||||||
| 1. | 38 (world) | Nigeria | 1614 | |||
| 2. | 51 | Cameroon | 1486 | |||
| 3. | 53 | South Africa | 1434 | |||
| 4. | 60 | Ghana | 1404 | |||
| 5. | 63 | Côte d’Ivoire | 1392 | |||
| 6. | 71 | Equatorial Guinea | 1356 | |||
| 7. | 78 | Tunisia | 1313 | |||
| 8. | 81 | Morocco | 1280 | |||
| 9. | 83 | Mali | 1276 | |||
| 10. | 85 | Algeria | 1271 |
WORLD TOP 10:
1.
U.S.A
2. Germany
3. France
4. Netherlands
5. Sweden
6. England
7. Australia
8. Brazil
9.
Canada
10. North Korea