Nigeria’s Super Eagles have marked a notable ascent in the latest FIFA rankings, climbing three positions to secure the 36th spot globally, reinstating their position among Africa’s top five teams.
The national team’s advancement follows their 1-0 victory against Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match, their only fixture during the review period.
A scheduled return match was canceled due to logistical challenges, with the Confederation of African Football currently investigating the circumstances.
The Super Eagles’ journey in FIFA rankings has been marked by significant milestones since the system’s introduction in 1992.
The team reached its peak position of 5th globally in April 1994, coinciding with their maiden World Cup appearance and following their Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
They also achieved impressive rankings of 7th in May 1994 and maintained 9th position from November 2006 through January 2007.
However, the team faced their lowest point in November 1999, dropping to 82nd globally.
In the current African hierarchy, Morocco leads the continent at 13th globally, followed by Senegal (20th), Egypt (30th), Nigeria (36th), and Algeria (37th). Notably, the reigning African champions, Côte d’Ivoire’s Elephants, have slipped from the continent’s top five, now occupying the 40th position globally.
The global rankings continue to see Argentina maintaining their supremacy, though France and Spain are narrowing the gap. England, Brazil, and Belgium have retained their positions, while Portugal and Italy have made upward movements within the top ten.
Several African nations have demonstrated remarkable progress in the latest rankings. Cameroon has re-entered the top 50, securing the 49th position after climbing four spots. Equatorial Guinea has advanced six places to 88th, while Zimbabwe has risen seven spots to 117th. The Gambia and Botswana have also made significant strides, moving up seven positions each to 128th and 140th respectively.
Particularly noteworthy are the achievements of Comoros and Sudan, both advancing ten places in the rankings. Comoros has reached its highest-ever position in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, while Sudan’s upward trajectory follows their victory over Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers.
