Algeria remains Africa's leading light as they continue on their upward curve after the 2014 World Cup. The North African side rose five places in the FIFA rankings to 15th overall, the highest they have ever been ranked on the table.
Their climb comes with them being the only country to have won all four of their 2015 African Nations' Cup qualifiers. They are already guaranteed a place at next year's continental championship, and as things stand, they seem to be a strong candidate to challenge for the title.
The news was not so good for another team that performed admirably at the most recent ANC in 2013. Burkina Faso were a surprise finalist in South Africa but have tumbled 23 places to 71st, sending them out of the top 65 for the first time since 2012. The Stallions will be aggrieved with their drop.
The truth is that they have not done that badly since losing 1-0 to Nigeria in February. Burkina Faso have played 22 matches since that day at Soccer City and have won more than they have lost. Their 10 victories have included four triumphs over Niger and victories against Congo, Algeria, Morocco, Gabon, Lesotho and Angola. Their eight losses have come at the hands of Algeria (three), Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and Gabon. They have also drawn four matches and remain in contention to play at the 2015 event.
However, it's their latest round of results that reflect greatest in the rankings, and those have been the most concerning. Defeat and a draw to Gabon have left Burkina Faso second in their group and have underlined how much Alain Traore does for their side. The Lorient-based striker was ruled out of the Gabon matches with an ankle injury, and his absence was as obvious as it had been in the past.
Traore missed out on the 2013 ANC final, which Burkina Faso lost. He also did not play in the two-legged tie that would have seen Burkina Faso qualify for the World Cup had they won. Perhaps the latest rankings are a simple warning to Burkina Faso not to be over-reliant on one man and an indication they need to deepen the player pool.
At least Egypt have no such concerns. In a mirror image of Burkina Faso's spiral, they scaled 23 places upwards after getting their ANC qualifying campaign back on track with back-to-back victories over Botswana. Importantly for Egypt, 22-year old striker Mohamed Salah found the back of the net in both games. Since making his debut three years ago, Salah has already netted 19 times in 33 matches and is proving a more than adequate replacement for Mohamed Aboutrika, who retired at the end of last year.
Aboutrika was a mentor to Salah, who admitted to "missing" him on the pitch and will but trying to honour his legacy. Last week, Salah spoke of his desire to build a strong Egyptian team for the future, one that can go on to match and even surpass some of the feats of players before. "A new generation for the national team is being built. I hope we're up to the challenge and that we will be fortunate enough to reach new achievements," he said.
Already they have some differences from their predecessors. Unlike Aboutrika, who spent his career at home, Salah has moved to the Premier League and his time at Chelsea could pay off handsomely for his country, given the profile he will gain from being involved with the Blues.
Someone who knows all about reputation is Emmanuel Adebayor, whose Togo team were Africa's biggest movers. They sailed up 73 places into 52nd overall and 10th on the continent, after twin wins over Uganda and remain very much in contention to play at the 2015 ANC. The most heartening news for Togo to take out of the latest rankings is that it could spell the start of some stability for them following the appointment of Tchakala Tchanile in June.
Tchanile took over from Didier Six, who had a volatile relationship with Adebayor, who accused Six of not doing his job. "The coach was not a help," Adebayor said after Togo lost to Burkina Faso at the 2013 ANC quarterfinals. These days, Adebayor remains at the heartbeat of the team but seems much happier doing so and that may only bode well for the currently high-flying West Africans.