The Super Eagles of Nigeria have ascended three positions to claim 38th place in FIFA’s latest men’s world rankings, released on November 19, 2025.
This upward movement follows a turbulent period for Nigeria’s national team. FIFA evaluated 149 international matches since the previous ranking update. Key contests for Nigeria included a decisive 4-1 victory against Gabon and a tense 1-1 draw with DR Congo.
The DR Congo match culminated in a penalty shootout. Nigeria narrowly lost 4-3 after extra time during the African World Cup play-off.
Despite the disappointment of missing the 2026 World Cup, these performances boosted Nigeria’s global standing. The team now holds 1,502.46 ranking points.
Nigeria Maintains Fifth in Africa
Nigeria retains its position as Africa’s fifth-ranked team. Continental leaders Morocco sit 11th globally with 1,713.12 points. Senegal follows in 19th place with 1,648.07 points.
Egypt occupies 34th position with 1,520.68 points. Algeria trails closely with 1,516.37 points. Morocco’s substantial lead places them 210.66 points above Nigeria.
The rankings reveal intense competition near Nigeria’s position. Tunisia sits just behind in 40th place with 1,497.13 points. Ivory Coast and DR Congo follow with 1,489.59 and 1,442.50 points respectively.
Global Ranking Shifts
FIFA attributed ranking changes to worldwide match results. Decisive 2026 World Cup qualifiers also influenced positions. Spain maintains its top global ranking.
Argentina and France remain close challengers. Brazil made significant progress, jumping two places to fifth position. This created upward movement opportunities for other teams.
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