Super Eagles Rise in Latest FIFA Rankings After Impressive AFCON 2025 Run

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have climbed the FIFA Men’s World Rankings after a strong showing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and recent competitive results, reflecting improvement on the global stage. In the latest rankings released by FIFA, Nigeria moved up to 38th in the world, a jump of three places since the previous list.

The updated positions take into account Nigeria’s 4–1 win over Gabon and 1–1 draw with DR Congo, which ended in a 4–3 penalty defeat in the African World Cup qualifying play-off. Since FIFA counts matches decided by penalties as draws, the Eagles retained ranking points that helped lift them in the standings.

With their new total of 1,502.46 ranking points, the Super Eagles are currently fifth among African national teams, behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and Algeria.

Nigeria’s rise in the rankings comes on the back of a notable AFCON 2025 campaign in Morocco, where they finished with a bronze medal after defeating Egypt on penalties. While the Eagles missed out on advancing to the World Cup play-offs, their improved performances in competitive fixtures have contributed to the positive movement in the global list.

The next FIFA ranking update — scheduled shortly after the AFCON 2025 final — may see further movement based on the Eagles’ continental showing.

EDITORIAL

In the architecture of international football, rankings are more than mere numbers: they are the cumulative echo of performance, ambition and resilience. For the Super Eagles, climbing to 38th in the FIFA World Rankings following their AFCON 2025 sojourn is not simply statistical progress it is affirmation of a team in evolution.

Nigeria’s journey through Morocco was, by turns, pragmatic and poignant. The bronze medal they secured a testament to nerve in a penalty shoot-out against Egypt — speaks to a collective spirit tempered by adversity and calibrated by tactical discipline. Yet the impact on global standing transcends the medal itself. In a system where points are accrued through competitive results over time, the Eagles’ emphatic victory over Gabon and stalwart draw with DR Congo — even if ultimately falling short of World Cup qualification ensured they emerged from a period of fierce competition with added respect on the world stage.

This upward movement in the rankings is also a marker of consistency rather than happenstance. It reflects victories and draws that carried meaning, not mere friendlies that populate lesser international windows. It suggests a squad capable of balancing youthful vigour with seasoned leadership, a blend necessary for sustained ascendancy.

Yet context matters. Africa’s top echelon still sits above Nigeria in the global list Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and Algeria each occupy higher positions — underscoring that the path to continental pre-eminence remains fiercely contested. The Eagles’ current placement, therefore, is both commendation and challenge a nod to progress, and a prompt to push further.

In this game of margins, where one result can pivot perception and one tactical insight can shift momentum, Nigeria’s rise serves as an encouraging chapter in a broader narrative. It affirms that even in the aftermath of disappointment, the architecture of progress — built through results, character and collective belief — can endure.

DID YOU KNOW?

1. Nigeria finished the 2025 FIFA calendar ranked 38th in the world, marking an improvement from earlier in the year.
2. The Super Eagles are currently ranked fifth among African nations, behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and Algeria.
3. FIFA counts matches decided by penalty shootouts as draws, meaning Nigeria’s 4–3 shootout loss to DR Congo did not cost them ranking points.
4. Nigeria’s emphatic 4–1 win over Gabon was a major contributor to the rise in their FIFA ranking points.
5. The next FIFA ranking update is scheduled after the AFCON 2025 final, offering Nigeria another opportunity to climb further depending on their performances.