By Agnes Amondi,

Tokyo-bound Zambia are among several teams to have earned a FIFA Women’s World Ranking boost following a busy start to the year.

A combination of Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifiers and several friendly tournaments have served to cause significant movement across the continents.

And while the Zambians (100th, up 6) are this edition’s biggest climbers thanks to their shock preliminary triumph over Cameroon, they are not the only team ascending the order.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria remain Africa’s top ranked nation whilst they sit 38th in the world having moved a spot up.

South Africa also gained two places to 53rd in overall ranking and third in Africa. The top ten positions remain same to the last ranking dated 13 December 2019 with only Congo dropping out as Tunisia coming in to fill in at position seven and (78) in world order.

Regional champions of the already played tournaments, Tunisia (UNAF – North Africa) and Equatorial Guinea (UNIFFAC – Central Africa) feature. Twenty two African nations recorded a drop, including Kenya who registered mixed results at the Turkish Women’s Cup to move into 137 from 133.

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.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking will be published on 26 June 2020

Top 10 FIFA Africa Women’s Football Ranking1.

Nigeria (38)2. Cameroon (51)3. South Africa (53)4. Ghana (60)5. Cote d’Ivoire (60)6. Equatorial Guinea (71)7. Tunisia (78)8. Morocco (80)9. Mali (83)10. Algeria (85)