Mauritania, who host South Africa in a 2017 Cup of Nations qualifier next month, were the biggest African climbers in the August FIFA Africa rankings released Thursday.

The largely desert north-west country rose 15 places to 33 in Africa and 113 in the world thanks to a 2-0 African Nations Championship (CHAN) triumph over Sierra Leone.

CHAN games count toward the monthly rankings even though they are restricted to home-based footballers, which prevents countries like Ivory Coast fielding any first-choice players in the biennial competition.

A Mauritanian team guided by French coach Corentin Martins has been steadily improving and were unlucky to lose a Cup of Nations qualifier 1-0 at four-time African champions Cameroon last June.

The visitors contained the Indomitable Lions until the final minute in Yaounde when Porto striker Vincent Aboubakar snatched the match-winning goal.

But a victory over traditional poor travellers South Africa at Stade Olympique in Nouakchott between September 4 and 6 would bring Mauritania back into contention to win Group M.

Other African nations to climb more than five places were Malawi (up 10), Sierra Leone (seven) and Swaziland (six).

Algeria remain the No. 1 African national team with Ivory Coast, Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Cape Verde, Egypt and Nigeria completing the top 10.

The monthly FIFA Africa football rankings released Thursday (Africa, world rankings):

1-19 Algeria, 2-21 Ivory Coast, 3-27 Ghana, 4-34 Tunisia, 5-39 Senegal, 6-42 Cameroon, 7-43 Congo Brazzaville, 8-50 Cape Verde, 9-52 Egypt, 10-53 Nigeria, 11-59 Democratic Republic of Congo, 12-60 Guinea, 13-62 Equatorial Guinea, 14-63 Mali

15-64 Gabon, 16-71 Burkina Faso, 17-72 South Africa, 18-73 Zambia, 19-74 Uganda, 20-80 Togo, 21-82 Morocco, 22-87 Sudan, 23-89 Angola, 24-91 Rwanda, 25-94 Libya, 26-97 Mozambique, 27-98 Malawi, 28-99 Ethiopia

29-102 Niger, 30-104 Sierra Leone, 31-108 Zimbabwe, 32-111 Namibia, 33-113 Mauritania, 34-114 Benin, 35-116 Kenya, 36-121 Botswana, 37-122 Madagascar, 38-128 Lesotho, 39-132 Swaziland, 40-132 Burundi, 41-140 Tanzania

42-142 Gambia, 43-142 Guinea-Bissau, 44-161 Liberia, 45-169 Central African Republic, 46-172 Chad, 47-181 Mauritius, 48-185 Seychelles, 49-186 Comoros, 50-189 Sao Tome e Principe, 51-195 South Sudan, 52-203 Eritrea, 53-204 Somalia, 54-206 Djibouti

Note; next rankings to be released on Sept 3