The Super Eagles of Nigeria have made a notable leap in the latest FIFA rankings, rising three spots to 36th in the world, according to the announcement made on Thursday.
This surge comes after Nigeria secured a crucial victory against Libya in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, winning 1-0 in Uyo on October 11. With this win, Nigeria now ranks fourth on the African continent, moving up from sixth place. Morocco leads Africa in 13th position globally, followed by Senegal at 20th and Egypt at 30th. Algeria rounds out the top five, currently ranked 37th in the world.
The recent ranking reflects a busy international window for football, with 32 FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, 47 AFCON 2025 qualifiers, 79 Nations League matches, and 17 friendlies played throughout October. This intense schedule has resulted in various shifts in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking.
At the top of the global table, Argentina maintains the number one spot, closely followed by France and Spain in second and third, respectively. England, Brazil, and Belgium hold the next three positions. Portugal (7th) and Italy (9th) both climbed one spot, while the Netherlands (8th) and Colombia (10th) each dropped one position.
Notably, Algeria (37th), Peru (38th), and Greece (42nd) are among the significant movers in the rankings, with Cameroon re-entering the top 50 at 49th. Other African nations showing improvement include Equatorial Guinea (88th), Zimbabwe (117th), The Gambia (128th), and Botswana (140th), with Botswana achieving the largest points gain of 38.30.
In addition to the FIFA ranking updates, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the 2024 CAF Awards will take place in Marrakech, Morocco, on December 16, marking Morocco's third consecutive hosting of the event.
Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman, who plays for Atalanta, is a strong contender for the Male Player of the Year award and is also on the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or. If he wins, Lookman would become the second consecutive Nigerian to receive this honor, following his teammate Victor Osimhen, the current holder.
