Believe it or not, a tiny island nation is currently causing massive headaches for the giants of African football. If you've been checking the Comoros national football team standings lately, you already know the vibe. They aren't just "participating" anymore. They are competing.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild.
A few years ago, Comoros was the team everyone expected to beat by four or five goals. Now? You’ve got teams like Ghana and Tunisia sweating when they see "The Coelacanths" on the schedule. As of January 2026, the team is riding a wave of momentum that has redefined their place in the CAF hierarchy.
Where They Stand Right Now
Let's look at the numbers because they tell a story of grit. In the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Comoros has been fighting in Group I. They’ve played 10 matches, racking up 15 points. They aren't at the very top—Ghana leads that pack with 25 points—but sitting in 4th place ahead of the Central African Republic and Chad is a statement.
They won five games. They lost five. Zero draws.
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That "all or nothing" energy is exactly why fans are obsessed. It’s not just the World Cup stuff, though. The real drama recently unfolded in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In the AFCON qualifiers, Comoros actually topped Group A with 12 points. Think about that. They went unbeaten in six matches, winning three and drawing three. They finished above the heavyweights of Ivory Coast and Tunisia. That is basically the football equivalent of a David vs. Goliath story where David brought a bazooka.
AFCON 2025 Tournament Performance
In the actual tournament held in Morocco last month (December 2025), things were a bit tougher. They landed in a "Group of Death" with Morocco, Mali, and Zambia.
- Match 1: A 2-0 loss to Morocco. Tough, but Morocco is world-class.
- Match 2: A 0-0 draw against Zambia. Boring for some, but a huge defensive win for them.
- Match 3: A 0-0 draw against Mali.
They finished with 2 points and didn't score a single goal in the tournament. It sounds grim on paper, but keeping clean sheets against Zambia and Mali shows a defensive discipline that this team never used to have. They finished 3rd in the group, which sadly wasn't enough to repeat their 2021 miracle run to the Round of 16.
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The FIFA Ranking Reality
If you’re wondering how this translates to the global stage, the FIFA World Ranking for Comoros is a bit of a roller coaster. As of the latest update in late 2025, they were sitting at 109th in the world.
That’s a slight drop from their all-time high of 103rd, but lightyears away from the days they were ranked 207th.
Rankings are sorta weird anyway. They don't always capture the "fear factor" a team has on the pitch. Ask any Black Stars fan if they’d rather play Comoros or a team ranked 80th in Europe—they’ll probably pick the European team. Comoros has become a giant-killer.
Why the Comoros National Football Team Standings Matter
It’s about more than just a table. This team represents the diaspora. Most of the players weren't even born on the islands; they’re from the suburbs of Marseille or Paris. They chose to play for their parents' homeland out of pure heart.
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Key Players Carrying the Torch:
- Zaydou Youssouf: The guy is a engine in midfield. His market value is around €5.5 million, which is huge for a nation this size.
- Myziane Maolida: He provides that spark on the wing.
- Youssouf M'Changama: The captain and absolute legend. He has over 70 caps. He’s 35 now, but he still runs like he’s 21.
- Yannick Pandor: The goalkeeper who kept those clean sheets in AFCON. He's only 24 and looks like a long-term wall for the team.
What's Next for the Coelacanths?
So, where do they go from here? The World Cup dream for 2026 is effectively over since Ghana has a lock on that top spot in Group I, but the foundation is solid. The team is young. They are defensively sound.
The focus now shifts to the next AFCON cycle and maintaining that top-100 FIFA ranking. Stefano Cusin, the Italian coach, has brought a tactical rigidity that the team lacked in the past. They aren't just "scrappy" anymore; they are organized.
If you want to keep tabs on them, watch the upcoming friendlies in March 2026. That's when we'll see if they can start finding the back of the net again. The defense is there. The heart is there. They just need someone to start clinical finishing.
Your Action Plan for Following Comoros:
- Track the CAF 2027 AFCON Qualifiers: These will likely start later this year. Comoros will be a Pot 2 or Pot 3 team, making their group draw crucial.
- Monitor the "French Connection": Keep an eye on Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 in France. New dual-national talents emerge every season who are eligible for Comoros.
- Check FIFA Ranking Updates: The next big move in the standings will happen after the March international break.
The rise of Comoros isn't a fluke. It's a blueprint for every small nation on how to build a competitive squad from scratch.