Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, has risen to 26th place globally and third on the African continent in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings, released on Monday. The advancement follows the team’s performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, where Nigeria finished third.

The team moved up 12 positions from 38th to 26th after accumulating the highest point gain in the latest rankings (+79.09), reflecting consistent results across seven matches at the continental tournament. Under coach Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles won six of their seven matches, defeating Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Mozambique, Algeria, and Egypt, before losing narrowly in the semi-final against hosts Morocco on penalties.

Nigeria now ranks behind AFCON winners Senegal, 12th globally, and Morocco, 8th, making the Super Eagles the third-ranked African team in the world. Algeria and Egypt occupy fourth and fifth positions on the continent, respectively.

“The team’s performance at the tournament contributed significantly to the ranking points accrued in this cycle,” FIFA noted. The increase highlights the impact of AFCON results on national team standings, with multiple African teams recording upward movement following the competition. Cameroon, which reached the quarter-finals, also rose 12 places to 45th. Algeria moved up six spots to 28th, Egypt gained four places to 31st, Côte d’Ivoire climbed five positions to 37th, and Congo DR advanced eight positions to 48th.

AFCON participants played seven matches each, with Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, and Senegal recording the highest number of games among all nations in the ranking period. The ranking cycle also reflects broader trends in global football, with Spain remaining first, followed by FIFA world champions Argentina in second, and France third. Other top-ranked nations include England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Morocco, Belgium, and Germany.

The AFCON tournament has also altered the composition of teams in the top 50 globally. Africa now has nine nations in this bracket, two more than at the end of 2025. UEFA continues to dominate with 26 representatives, while CONMEBOL has seven. The AFC and Concacaf each have four, and OFC nations remain unrepresented.

Nigeria’s rise in the rankings demonstrates the national team’s growing consistency at continental competitions and suggests increased competitiveness within African football. Analysts note that sustained performance in CAF tournaments, coupled with participation in international fixtures, will be key to consolidating the team’s position both regionally and globally.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking will be published on 1 April 2026.