Nigeria’s Super Eagles have recorded a major jump in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings, climbing to 26th place globally and third in Africa following their impressive showing at AFCON 2025.
The new ranking, released on Monday, sees Nigeria move up 12 places from 38th, marking the national team’s highest global position since May 2010, when the Super Eagles were ranked 21st in the world.
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AFCON 2025 Drives Nigeria’s Ranking Surge
Nigeria’s rise in the rankings is largely down to their strong performance at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the Super Eagles finished third and went unbeaten in regulation time throughout the tournament.
Eric Chelle’s side narrowly missed out on a place in the final after a penalty shoot-out defeat to hosts Morocco in the semi-final, before regrouping to defeat Egypt in the third-place playoff and claim the bronze medal.
FIFA confirmed that Nigeria recorded one of the highest point gains in the latest update, reflecting the Super Eagles’ consistency, defensive solidity and ability to deliver results against top opposition during the competition.
Third Best Team in Africa
The updated rankings place Nigeria third on the continent, behind only AFCON champions Senegal and hosts Morocco.
Senegal, who lifted the AFCON trophy on Sunday, climbed seven places to 12th in the world, while Morocco broke into the global top 10 for the first time in decades, rising to 8th overall despite their final defeat.
Nigeria’s jump also sees them ranked above several African heavyweights, including Algeria, Ghana and South Africa, underlining the Super Eagles’ growing momentum on the international stage.
Global Top 10
At the top of the world rankings, there was no change among the leading nations. Spain remain number one, followed by Argentina and France, with England and Brazil completing the top five.
The next FIFA World Rankings update is scheduled for April 1, 2026, following the upcoming international window, with Nigeria now well positioned to continue their climb if recent performances are maintained.
