The Super Eagles of Nigeria have climbed to 26th in the world and 3rd in Africa, highlighting their impressive performance at the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Analysts say this marks a major Super Eagles FIFA rise, moving the team up 12 spots from their previous ranking of 38th.
The Nigerian national team earned the most points in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings (+79.09), after their strong outing at the continental competition.
Coach Eric Chelle’s squad won six of seven matches, defeating Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Mozambique, Algeria, and Egypt, but narrowly lost in the semi-finals to host nation Morocco on penalties.
“We are proud of the players and their discipline on and off the pitch,” a spokesperson for the Nigeria Football Federation said. “This rise reflects their hard work and the growing strength of Nigerian football.”
The Super Eagles are now the third-best team in Africa, behind AFCON winners Senegal, ranked 12th globally, and Morocco, placed 8th in the world. Algeria and Egypt follow in fourth and fifth positions respectively on the African ranking.
Sports analysts have described this achievement as a continuation of the Super Eagles FIFA rise, underscoring the team’s improved consistency in international competitions.
Globally, the top ten remains dominated by traditional football powerhouses: Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Morocco, Belgium, and Germany. For Nigeria, this climb to 26th demonstrates growing recognition of their progress and potential.
“With this new ranking, our players are motivated to maintain momentum and keep pushing for Africa’s top spot,” said football analyst Chinedu Okeke.
The Super Eagles FIFA rise now positions Nigeria as a serious contender for future international tournaments, including the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.