Nigeria’s Super Eagles have climbed to 26th position in the latest FIFA World Ranking released on Monday, making a remarkable 12-place jump following their impressive performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The national team moved up from 38th place after securing a third-place finish at the continental tournament, a result that significantly boosted their global standing.
Nigeria’s bronze medal outing at AFCON 2025 stands out as one of the team’s most solid performances in recent years and has contributed greatly to the sharp rise in the rankings.
The improvement reflects the Super Eagles’ strong results against tough opponents during the competition, as well as their overall positive form in recent international matches.
With the latest update, Nigeria now ranks as the third-best team in Africa.
AFCON champions Senegal top the African rankings and are placed 12th in the world, while hosts Morocco are second on the continent and eighth globally.
Algeria and Egypt round out Africa’s top five teams, sitting fourth and fifth respectively.
Globally, Spain currently lead the FIFA rankings, ahead of Argentina and France.
England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Croatia complete the world’s top 10.
Football analysts say the Super Eagles’ rise in the rankings is a major boost for Nigerian football and could improve the team’s seeding in future international tournaments.
They note that maintaining this progress will depend on consistent performances, effective squad development, and strong results in upcoming World Cup and AFCON qualifying matches.