The Super Eagles of Nigeria have placed 26th position globally in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings released, climbing to third in Africa.
Globally, Spain retained top spot, followed by Argentina and France, while England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Croatia complete the top 10.
Nigeria moved up from fifth to third in Africa after an impressive performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, where they finished third. Nigeria beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties in the third-place match to claim the Bronze prize.
The Super Eagles won six of seven matches, beating Tunisia and Algeria, but lost the semi-final to hosts Morocco on penalties. Nigeria now ranks behind AFCON finalists Senegal and Morocco, who are placed 19th and 11th, respectively, in the global standings.
Nigeria’s rise in the January 2026 FIFA rankings reflect stability rather than global progress. However, failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may negatively affect Nigeria’s global ranking, in future releases.
Algeria and Egypt occupy fourth and fifth places in Africa, while DR Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Mali and Tunisia complete the continent’s top 10.
Morocco retained Africa’s highest-ranked side globally, with Senegal second, followed by Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria in the continental pecking order.
Other African teams in the top 10 include Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, DR Congo and Cameroon, all ranked between 41st and 57th globally.