Nigeria’s Super Eagles have moved up in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings, showing progress despite the team’s painful failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a playoff loss to DR Congo.
The new rankings place Nigeria 38th in the world and fifth in Africa, maintaining their presence among the continent’s elite football nations.
Nigeria Rise as FIFA Evaluates 149 Matches
FIFA’s latest rankings were calculated based on 149 international matches, including 79 friendly fixtures, played since the previous ranking update.
These matches influenced point movements worldwide and helped shape the final CAF and AFC playoff seeding.
Nigeria now hold 1,502.46 points, a slight increase reflective of their competitive performances despite recent setbacks.
Africa’s Top Five: Where Nigeria Stand
The Super Eagles remain firmly in Africa’s top tier, ranking behind four familiar continental rivals:
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Morocco – 13th in the world, 1,713.12 points
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Senegal – 19th in the world, 1,648.07 points
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Egypt – 34th in the world, 1,520.68 points
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Algeria – 35th in the world, 1,516.37 points
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Nigeria – 38th in the world, 1,502.46 points
Morocco’s sustained run of strong performances keeps them at the top of the African rankings, while Nigeria remain within touching distance of the continent’s best.
Spain Lead the World as Global Rankings Remain Stable
The top five in world football remain unchanged, reflecting the dominance of established football powerhouses:
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Spain
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Argentina
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France
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England
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Brazil
