The Cape Verde national team has dropped four places in the FIFA world ranking 7 October. The Blue Sharks have fallen from 64th to 68th globally, a slide triggered by defeats to Mali and Rwanda in 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
The 3-1 loss away to Mali on 25 September cost 11.24 ranking points. Four days later, a 2-1 home defeat to Rwanda saw a further 18.15 points lost. In total, Cape Verde shed 29.39 points, dropping from 1402.97 to 1373.58. Despite the fall, the team remains among Africa's top 15, now holding 13th place in the CAF ranking. Morocco continues to lead the continent, sitting seventh in the world.
In the African context, Mali, the side that beat Cape Verde, is the continent's ninth-best team and occupies 47th place worldwide. Among Portuguese-speaking nations (PALOP), Cape Verde maintains a clear lead. Angola is 83rd, Mozambique is 98th, Guinea-Bissau is 124th, and São Tomé and Príncipe is 194th.
This ranking drop follows a period of mixed results. The last official match was a 3-2 defeat to Argentina on 3 July. The recent form, with one win, three draws, and one loss in the last five games, reflects some inconsistency. Supporters can check the full history and upcoming fixtures on our stats page.
Globally, the FIFA ranking is led by Spain, followed by Argentina, France, England, and Portugal. Cape Verde's next chance to recover ranking points comes next month with a CAN qualifier. The immediate objective is to return to winning ways and climb back up the African and world football hierarchy.
Background and full detail: Balai Cabo Verde
