Uganda’s national football team has been rewarded for its recent momentum with a significant leap in the latest FIFA world rankings. The Cranes have surged six places, moving from 88th in July to 82nd globally — their sharpest climb in years.
This rise has been fueled by a mix of history-making moments and hard-fought victories. In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Uganda stitched together back-to-back wins against Somalia and Mozambique.
On top of that, they achieved a milestone in the African Nations Championship (CHAN), breaking through the group stage barrier for the very first time.
The reward: a place among Africa’s top 15, sitting just outside the continent’s elite bracket. While still shy of breaking into the top 10, the Cranes’ new position underscores a team growing in stature and building a reputation for consistency.
Elsewhere on the continent, Morocco remain Africa’s pace-setters, currently ranked 11th in the world. They are followed by Senegal (18th) and Egypt (35th), with Algeria, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Tunisia, Cameroon, South Africa, and Mali rounding out the top 10.
On the global front, Spain continue to set the pace as the world’s number one, chased closely by France, Argentina, and England.
Uganda’s rise to 82nd may look modest in numbers, but for a team steadily piecing together progress, it’s a loud statement: the Cranes are no longer outsiders, they are climbing the African football ladder, one step at a time.
