The Super Eagles of Nigeria have surged to 26th place in the latest FIFA World Ranking released on Monday, recording an impressive 12-place climb following their strong showing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The Nigerian senior national team moved up from 38th in the previous ranking after finishing third at the continental tournament, a performance that significantly boosted their standing on the global stage.
Nigeria’s bronze medal finish at the 2025 AFCON marked one of the team’s most consistent outings in recent years and appears to have played a major role in the sharp rise in their FIFA ranking.
The improvement reflects the Super Eagles’ positive results against strong opposition during the competition, as well as their overall form in recent international fixtures.
With the latest ranking, Nigeria is now the third-best team on the African continent.
BELLNEWS reports that 2025 AFCON hosts, Morocco, currently occupy first place in Africa and eighth in the world, while the tournament champions, Senegal, follow as second in the continent and are ranked 12th globally.
Algeria, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Tunisia, Congo DR, and Mali made the top 10 African countries on the continental stage.
On the global stage, Spain sits atop the FIFA ranking, followed by Argentina and France.
England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Croatia make up the rest of the world’s top 10 teams.
Football analysts say the Super Eagles’ rise in the ranking is a morale booster for Nigerian football and could enhance the team’s seeding in future international competitions.
They add that sustaining the upward trajectory will depend on consistency in performances, effective team rebuilding and strong results in the upcoming World Cup and AFCON qualifiers.