After finishing as runners-up in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt climbed twelve positions to 23 in the FIFA global football rankings published on 9 February, up from 35 last month.
The Pharaohs played six games in the Nations Cup with a goalless draw with Mali, and 1-0 wins over Uganda, Ghana and Morocco before beating Burkina Faso 4-3 on penalty shoots. Egypt lost the final game of the tournament 2-1 to Cameroon.
Egypt made it into the world's top 10 when they won three successive AFCON trophies in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Egypt are leading the continent as well as Arab countries, with Tunisia ranked 36, Morocco 48 and Algeria 50.
AFCON champions Cameroon were the best mover in this month's rankings, jumping 29 positions to place 33, while Ivory Coast made the worst move, dropping 13 places.
FIFA world rankings (January position in parentheses):
1. Argentina (1)
2. Brazil (2)
3. Germany (3)
4. Chile (4)
5. Belgium (5)
6. France (7)
7. Colombia (6)
8. Portugal (8)
9. Uruguay (9)
10. Spain (10)
Top 10 African teams:
23. Egypt (35)
31. Senegal (33)
33. Cameroon (62)
36. Tunisia (36)
37. DR Congo (49)
38. Burkina Faso (53)
41. Nigeria (50)
45. Ghana (54)
47. Ivory Coast (34)
48. Morocco (57)
Top five Arab teams:
23. Egypt (35)
36. Tunisia (36)
48. Morocco (57)
50. Algeria (49)
56. Saudi Arabia (48)
