Yanga surpass Mamelodi Sundowns, TP Mazembe in IFFHS rankings

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Mainland champions, Young Africans (Yanga), have outshined several African giants to rank fifth on the continent, The Citizen can reveal.

According to the latest International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) rankings, African giant teams ranked below Yanga include Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, Esperance of Tunisia, and Raja Club Athletic of Morocco.

Also in the list are Atlético Petro de Luanda (Angola), CR Belouizdad (Algeria), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), USM Alger (Algeria), Modern SC (Egypt), and FAR Rabat of Morocco.

The ranking, issued on October 13, shows Yanga collected 113.25 points over one year (from October 23 to September 30), securing their position.

The rankings also show that Yanga are ranked 155th in the world, while African giants Al Ahly top the continent with 237 points, ranking 20th globally.

Zamalek FC of Egypt ranks second in Africa with 168.5 points, followed by Pyramids FC of Egypt with 145 points in third.

RS Berkane of Morocco is fourth with 120.25 points. Zamalek FC, Pyramids FC, and RS Berkane are ranked 69th, 88th, and 139th globally, respectively.

Yanga’s traditional rivals, Simba SC, are ranked 16th in Africa with 81.25 points, placing them 259th globally.

Other teams and their respective countries, points, and rankings include Esperance (Tunisia, 113 points, 5th), Atlético Petro de Luanda (Angola, 108.25 points, 6th), Raja CA Casablanca (Morocco, 102.25 points, 8th), CR Belouizdad (Algeria, 101.5 points, 9th), and Mamelodi Sundowns FC of South Africa, ranked 10th with 100.5 points.

The top 20 also includes TP Mazembe (DR Congo, 99 points, 11th), USM Alger (Algeria, 93.25 points, 12th), Modern SC (Egypt, 91 points, 13th) and FAR Rabat (Morocco, 89.25 points, 14th).

Others are  ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast, 87.25 points, 15th), Stade Malien Bamako (Mali, 78.75 points, 17th), Rivers United FC (Nigeria, 78.25 points, 18th), MC Alger (Algeria, 77.5 points, 19th), and Dreams FC of Ghana, ranked 20th with 74.25 points.

The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) was founded on March 24, 1984, in Leipzig, Germany, and is now registered in Zurich, Switzerland.

The IFFHS World’s Best Club award has been given annually since 1991, and the entity also produces a monthly Club World Ranking.

The ranking is based on results from continental and intercontinental competitions, national league matches (including play-offs), and the most important national cup, excluding points earned before the round of 16.

All countries are rated on four levels based on national league performance—clubs in the highest-level leagues receive four points for each win, two for a draw, and zero for a loss.

Level two assigns three points for a win, 1.5 for a draw, and zero for a loss, with lower levels following similar patterns.

In continental competitions, all clubs receive the same points regardless of league performance. However, the UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores yield more points than the UEFA Europa League and Copa Sudamericana. The point system is lower for the AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, and OFC tournaments.

Intercontinental competitions are evaluated based on their importance. Competitions not organized by continental confederations or events not recognized by FIFA are not considered for IFFHS rankings.