Zambia’s Copper Queens have maintained their position in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings, holding firm at 65th globally and 4th in Africa.
The ranking update, released by FIFA on Friday, follows major international tournaments, including the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and UEFA Women’s EURO 2025.
Nigeria, winners of the WAFCON, remain Africa’s top-ranked team at 36th in the world. South Africa, who reached the semifinals of the tournament, follow closely as the continent’s second-best side and sit 54th globally.
One of the biggest movements in the latest rankings sees WAFCON finalists Morocco drop four places to 64th. Cameroon and Ghana have also slipped slightly, falling to 66th and 67th, respectively.
Top 6 African Teams in FIFA Women’s Rankings (August 2025):
- Nigeria – 36th
- South Africa – 54th
- Morocco – 64th ↓
- Zambia – 65th (unchanged)
- Cameroon – 66th ↓
- Ghana – 67th ↓
For Zambia, the unchanged ranking is a sign of consistency, despite their 5-0 defeat to Nigeria in the WAFCON quarterfinals. The Copper Queens have shown steady progress since their historic FIFA Women’s World Cup debut in 2023, where they secured their first-ever win on the global stage against Costa Rica. Their growing reputation as one of Africa’s rising forces remains intact.
The team is expected to return to action in October when they face Namibia in the final qualifying round for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, a fixture that could significantly influence their future ranking.
Meanwhile, world champions Spain have reclaimed the top spot in the global rankings after an impressive run to the final of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, winning five consecutive matches. They regain the No. 1 position they last held from December 2023 to June 2024.
The United States, now ranked second, has been knocked off the top for the first time since August 2024. However, three convincing friendly wins during the latest ranking window have kept the Stars and Stripes in close contention, trailing Spain by fewer than two points.
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