The Moroccan national football team has once again made a significant jump in the 2017 FIFA World Ranking, which was released on Thursday, climbing eight places.

After climbing eight places in October’s ranking, the Moroccan squad has managed to climb an additional eight in this month’s list, to be placed 40th in the world and fifth in the African continent.

The Atlas Lions’ performance during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers have helped the team clinch the 40th position in FIFA’s global ranking. The squad won some of the most important qualifiers, including those against Gabon, Mali, and Cote d’Ivoire.

Morocco is now among the best five football teams in the African continent, with Senegal ranking first and 23rd in the world. and Tunisia second (27th). Egypt has taken the third place in the continent and 31st place in the world, while the Democratic Republic of Congo was placed third in the African continent and 36th in the world.

The world ranking was topped by Germany, followed by Brazil, Portugal, and Argentina respectively.

In 2016, Morocco placed on the 57th FIFA global rankings in the world and 10th in the African continent.

The Moroccan team is now gearing up for the 2018 World Cup, which will take place in Russia next summer. The Atlas Lions are going to play five friendlies before heading to the tournament next phase, after beating Cote d’Ivoire with a 2-0 victory on November 11 in Abidjan