Nigeria’s Super Eagles have surged four places to 41st in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings, reclaiming a spot among Africa’s top five footballing nations.
The latest rankings, released on Friday, mark a significant leap for the three-time African champions, who climbed from 45th to 41st globally, moving ahead of Ivory Coast, now positioned 42nd.
Nigeria’s rise comes on the back of a strong showing in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, highlighted by a 2–1 victory over Lesotho in Polokwane and a dominant 4–0 win against Benin Republic in Uyo.
These results not only boosted the team’s ranking points but also sealed their place in the continental playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.
The Super Eagles are now set to face Gabon—ranked 77th worldwide and 15th in Africa—for a ticket to the final playoff round, where either Cameroon or DR Congo could be their next opponents.
Across the continent, Morocco remain Africa’s top-ranked team despite slipping one spot to 12th globally. They are followed by Senegal (18th), Egypt (32nd), and Algeria (35th), with Nigeria rounding out the top five. The rest of Africa’s top ten include Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Mali, Cameroon, and South Africa.
Globally, Spain continue to dominate at the summit of the FIFA world rankings after back-to-back World Cup qualifying wins over Georgia and Bulgaria. Argentina, the reigning world champions, climbed back into second place following friendly wins against Venezuela and Puerto Rico, while France slipped to third after a 2–2 draw with Iceland.
What You Should Know
The Super Eagles’ latest FIFA ranking reflects their resurgence under renewed focus and tactical discipline ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
With Nigeria now back among Africa’s elite, expectations are high for the team to maintain this momentum in the upcoming playoff matches. The rise also signals growing confidence in the squad’s ability to compete on both continental and global stages.
