Nigeria’s Super Falcons have slipped one place to 37th in the world in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings released days ago, despite maintaining their status as Africa’s highest-ranked women’s national team.
The Super Falcons, who were previously ranked 36th, now sit 37th with 1,607.063 points, a marginal drop largely attributed to their inactivity during the most recent FIFA women’s international window.
Inactivity during international window could have caused the Falcons to drop one place despite dominant continental success
Super Falcons Retain Continental Kings
Despite the global drop, Nigeria remain head and shoulders above the rest of Africa, continuing their long-standing dominance on the continent.
The top five African teams in the latest ranking are:
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Nigeria – 37th (Africa No. 1)
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South Africa – 55th
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Ghana – 62nd
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Zambia – 64th
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Morocco – 66th
South Africa’s Banyana Banyana retained their position as Nigeria’s closest continental rivals, while Ghana recorded one of the biggest rises among Africa’s top teams, climbing five places in the global rankings.
Beyond the continent’s elite, Burkina Faso emerged as one of the standout movers in the latest update.
Although ranked 15th in Africa, the Burkinabé side recorded the continent’s biggest leap, jumping 16 places globally from 134th to 118th, reflecting steady improvement in recent performances.
FIFA’s latest ranking cycle reveals the growing competitiveness of women’s football across Africa, with several nations closing the gap on perennial leaders Nigeria.
WAFCON Glory Still Fresh
The ranking adjustment comes on the back of a successful 2025 international year for the Super Falcons, following their triumph at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) held in Morocco from July 5 to 26.
Nigeria secured a record-extending 10th WAFCON title, staging a comeback in the final to defeat tournament hosts Morocco 3–2 after trailing by two goals.
The victory was powered by decisive contributions from Esther Okoronkwo and Rasheedat Ajibade, underlining Nigeria’s pedigree on the biggest continental stage.
Their title run included:
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A 5–0 quarterfinal demolition of Zambia
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A 2–1 semifinal victory over South Africa
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Group-stage wins against Botswana and Cape Verde
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A goalless draw with Algeria
Smooth Progress in 2026 WAFCON Qualifiers
Following their WAFCON success, the Super Falcons returned to competitive action in October 2025, cruising past the Republic of Benin in the qualifiers for the 2026 WAFCON.
Nigeria advanced with a 3–1 aggregate victory, securing a 2–0 away win in Lomé, Togo, before playing out a 1–1 draw at home in Abeokuta.
However, Justine Madugu’s side did not feature in the most recent FIFA international break, a factor that directly contributed to their slight fall in the latest ranking cycle.
Global Ranking: Spain Stay on Top
At the top of the global standings, Spain retained the No. 1 position, continuing their reign as the world’s best women’s national team.
The global top five is completed by:
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Spain
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United States
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Germany
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England
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Sweden
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Focus Shifts to Upcoming Engagements
With rankings updated, attention now turns to upcoming qualifiers and international fixtures as teams prepare for the next edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to return to Morocco in March next year.
The Super Falcons, the mission remains, maintaining continental dominance, returning to regular international action, and climbing back up the global rankings ladder.
