FIFA RANKING
Nigeria Jumps Four Places in New FIFA Rankings; Stirs Optimism in Local Football Circles
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have climbed four places in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings, rising to 41st globally.
On the African continent, Nigeria now occupies one of the higher slots, reflecting improved recent performances.
Other top African rankings include Morocco at the summit, followed by Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and Côte d’Ivoire among the continent’s elite.
The ranking boost offers renewed confidence for Nigeria’s squad ahead of key continental and World Cup qualifier matches.
The rise comes after a period of fluctuating form, raising hopes among fans and stakeholders that Nigeria might be re-establishing upward momentum on the world stage.
However, ranking gains alone may not mask deeper performance concerns; consistency in competitive matches will ultimately determine whether this climb is sustainable.
While Nigeria’s climb is visible, the continent’s hierarchy is still led by North and West African powers, making further gains an uphill battle.
The improved ranking offers a psychological boost ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers, continental tournaments, and friendly matches.
It could help in seeding and draws for future competitions, especially if the Super Eagles scale through next month’s continental play off in Morocco. But seeding advantages must be backed by results.
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The Super Eagles have slipped to 45th in the latest FIFA men’s world ranking, their lowest position in over six years, according to figures released Thursday by world football governing body, FIFA.
Despite remaining unbeaten in recent outings, Nigeria’s ranking points were not enough to maintain their previous position. The team also sits sixth on the African continent, behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire.
The decline highlights both the fierce competition within Africa and the importance of securing victories in high-value matches such as World Cup qualifiers.
Sports Village Square warns that the ranking could affect Nigeria’s seeding in future tournaments, potentially drawing the Super Eagles against tougher opponents in qualification campaigns.
The publication also urges the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to strengthen preparations for upcoming qualifiers, emphasizing consistency, competitive match scheduling, and squad stability as key to reversing the downward slide.
Nigeria’s FIFA Men’s World Ranking trend over the last ~5 years
| Year | Approximate Rank* | Notes/Remarks |
| 2020 | 35th | Nigeria ended 2020 at 35th globally. |
| 2021 | 36th | Nigeria’s year-end ranking in 2021 was 36th. |
| 2022 | 35th | Ended 2022 ranked 35th in the world. |
| 2023 | ~40–42nd | Mid-/late-2023 rankings show Nigeria around 40-42nd globally. |
| 2024 | 44th | By end of 2024, Nigeria dropped to 44th globally. |
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Nigeria’s women’s team, Super Falcons, remain at the 36th position in the FIFA ranking released this Thursday morning despite their victory at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
They, however, remain Africa’s best-ranked team. The stagnation may have been influenced by the fact that the time of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations also coincided with that of the European version, where most of the teams enjoy a higher ranking than the Nigerian side.
It will be another 126 days before the next ranking is made on 11 December 2025.
South Africa, at the 56th position, is the next ranked African team, while Morocco is at 64, Zambia is 65th, and Cameroon is at the 66th position.
Ghana, the third-placed team at WAFCON, places 67th in the global ranking.
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Zimbabwe has taken a five step up in the FIFA ranking just released this Thursday. The Zimbabwe Warriors are now 116th in the world ranking among the teams that got astronomical rise in the current ranking.
The 90th minute scored against Nigeria in World Cup qualifiers that ended 1-1 contributed to the rise.
Meanwhile, Nigeria also rose a step to the 43rd position from that of December 2024. They are 6th in Africa. Have they beaten Zimbabwe, their ranking could have been better.
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Nigeria Jumps Four Places in New FIFA Rankings; Stirs Optimism in Local Football Circles
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