Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, have achieved a significant leap in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings, moving up four places to occupy the 41st position globally.
This upward shift not only reflected their recent strong performances but also sees them rejoin the elite top five footballing nations in Africa.
According to the updated rankings released on Friday, Nigeria improved from their previous standing of 45th in the world and now sit just behind continental heavyweights such as Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria.
This progress also puts the Super Eagles ahead of West African rivals Ivory Coast, who now trail slightly in 42nd place.
The ranking boost comes on the back of a solid start to Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
The team secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Lesotho in Polokwane, South Africa, followed by a commanding 4–0 win against Benin Republic in Uyo.
These results had not only earned them crucial qualification points but also contributed significantly to their global standing.
With these wins, Nigeria has now booked a spot in the CAF playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.
The next hurdle on their qualification path is a showdown against Gabon, who are ranked 77th in the world and 15th in Africa.
The fixture will determine who advances to the final round of African qualifiers, where Nigeria could potentially meet either Cameroon or DR Congo.
Meanwhile, Morocco remained Africa’s top-ranked team, despite slipping slightly to 12th place in the global list.
Senegal followed in 18th place, while Egypt and Algeria are ranked 32nd and 35th respectively.
Nigeria now on the continent’s top five, underscoring their return to form after previous ranking setbacks.
Other African nations completing the top ten include Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Mali, Cameroon, and South Africa, highlighting the competitiveness of African football on the global stage.
At the international level, Spain continued to dominate the global rankings, cementing their place at the top following strong performances in recent World Cup qualifying matches.
Argentina have regained second position after back-to-back friendly victories, overtaking France, who dropped to third after being held to a draw by Iceland.
With momentum clearly on their side, the Super Eagles will look to maintain their form as they edge closer to a return to the World Cup stage a journey that now continues with their crucial upcoming fixture against Gabon.
