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FIFA rankings: Super Eagles rise to 26th, 3rd in Africa after AFCON brilliance

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have climbed to third place in Africa and 26th position globally in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings released on Monday.

The Nigerian national team moved 12 places from 38th to 26th after an impressive outing at the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they emerged third overall.

Nigeria scored the most points in the latest ranking (+79.09), after impressive performances at the continental competition.

Eric Chelle’s side won six of seven matches, beating Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Mozambique, Algeria and Egypt, but narrowly lost the semi-final to hosts Morocco on penalties.

The Super Eagles are now the third-best team in Africa, behind AFCON winners Senegal, ranked 12th globally, and Morocco, placed eighth in the world.

Algeria and Egypt occupy fourth and fifth positions, respectively, on the latest African ranking.

Meanwhile, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Morocco, Belgium, and Germany make up the world’s top 10 teams.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/fifa-rankings-super-eagles-rise-to-26th-3rd-in-africa-after-afcon-brilliance/amp/uh

TOP 10 AFRICAN TEAMS IN LATEST FIFA RANKINGS

1. Morocco 🇲🇦 (
2. Senegal 🇸🇳 (12)
3. Nigeria 🇳🇬 (26)
4. Algeria 🇩🇿 (28)
5. Egypt 🇪🇬 (31)
6. Cote d'Ivoire 🇨🇮 (37)
7. Cameroon 🇨🇲 (45)
8. Tunisia 🇹🇳 (47)
9. DR Congo 🇨🇩 (48)
10. Mali 🇲🇱 (54)

#FIFARankings #AfricanFootball

As long as we didn't make it to the World Cup, the ranking will still drop by the end of 2026.

WhiteIverson:
As long as we didn't make it to the World Cup, the ranking will still drop by the end of 2026.

Stop talking rubb1sh.

As if most of the African countries representing Africa won't be eliminated from the group stage

Sonnobax15:
Stop talking rubb1sh.

As if most of the African countries representing Africa won't be eliminated from the group stage

Are African countries the only one's on FIFA's list? I'm talking about the general rankings oga.

Congratulations!

Up Nigeria!

The Ghanaians with their world cup qualifications, they are on 72 spot.

The thing wey we go take the Ghanaians eyes see for the world cup heh, they should sha make sure they win all their matches because if not, the social media won't contain us

Where is Ghana and South Africa? 🧐

WhiteIverson:
Are African countries the only one's on FIFA's list? I'm talking about the general rankings oga.

The rankings wouldn't change much
When we didn't go to the last world cup what happened?

WhiteIverson:
As long as we didn't make it to the World Cup, the ranking will still drop by the end of 2026.

You are saying we are not going to play any friendly matches before the world cup even if we did not qualified!

In another list somewhere, I saw no. 5 or 6.
Super Eagles.
A major publication media

You see, Morocco still ranks higher even though Senegal beat them.

Meanwhile, Nigerians are crying that they were robbed during the Nig/Mar match even though the Eagles got only 2 shots on target in 120 minutes

People should stop using emotions to watch football!

What makes Morocco better than Senegal?
Morocco that have not won African cup of Nation for 50 years now is ranking higher than other countries that have achieved that.

Despite all their "wuruwuru" I spit on them.

What parameters is FIFA using to rank these countries?

Definitely thy deserves it. Had it be we beat those towel thieves morocco we will be up to second and 20th in the World.

If Chielle is allow to stay with the Eagle for like 2 to 3 years more we will be back on top but pls one unserious player should excuse that team and that is Chukwueze he should rest for now let someone else take over, he has done his best and we wish him the very best...no hating but he should rest for now.

WhiteIverson:
Are African countries the only one's on FIFA's list? I'm talking about the general rankings oga.

Definitely unless they qualify through backdoor, if not they will definitely find themselves back to number 35, but if they qualify they might be in top 20 with good outing.

helinues:
You are saying we are not going to play any friendly matches before the world cup even if we did not qualified!

If you know anything about Fifa rankings you should know that Friendly matches do not generate enough points to boost your rankings especially if you play against teams on or below your level. If you want the points to count, you have to play friendly games against the likes of Spain, Argentina, France, Portugal, Brazil, England and you have to WIN to get huge boosting points.

This is not correct. Belgium never won a trophy (either major or minor) but it was number one on FIFA ranking for many years. How do you solve that.

WhiteIverson:
As long as we didn't make it to the World Cup, the ranking will still drop by the end of 2026.

AMI3:
What makes Morocco better than Senegal?
Morocco that have not won African cup of Nation for 50 years now is ranking higher than other countries that have achieved that.

Despite all their "wuruwuru" I spit on them.

What parameters is FIFA using to rank these countries?

Points are used to rank countries. You get more points beating countries of high caliber which is what Morocco did in the last world cup. That's why they are still top for now. It's not by trophies won. There was a period where Belgium were in the top 3 for almost 7 years without winning any trophy.

sacajawea:
In another list somewhere, I saw no. 5 or 6.
Super Eagles.
A major publication media

That was the previous publication. This one is the latest and current publication by FIFA.

energy37:
This is not correct. Belgium never won a trophy (either major or minor) but it was number one on FIFA ranking for many years. How do you solve that.

You have to beat countries of high caliber to be top in the rankings. When last did Nigeria beat the likes of Spain, Brazil or Portugal?

WhiteIverson:
Points are used to rank countries. You get more points beating countries of high caliber which is what Morocco did in the last world cup. That's why they are still top for now. It's not by trophies won. There was a period where Belgium were in the top 3 for almost 7 years without winning any trophy.

Are u telling me that that it is because of last world cup performance that makes them to rank higher than other African countries?

WhiteIverson:
If you know anything about Fifa rankings you should know that Friendly matches do not generate enough points to boost your rankings especially if you play against teams on or below your level. If you want the points to count, you have to play friendly games against the likes of Spain, Argentina, France, Portugal, Brazil, England and you have to WIN to get points.

So the teams going to world cup are not going to play friendly matches with Nigeria?

The towel thieves are first, okay

WhiteIverson:
As long as we didn't make it to the World Cup, the ranking will still drop by the end of 2026.

It really depends on how we play moving forward. If we keep up our winning streak and avoid losses in our friendlies, we're bound to keep climbing higher. The teams that made it to the World Cup will need to keep winning, especially during the tournament, which will be quite a challenge. So let's give a big shoutout to our Eagles and celebrate their hard work.

It better to laugh last then to cry last ,super Eagle final was with Egypt and we won and celebrated it but Morocco finals ended up in tears for the host nation ...for me if Eagle can't give us the golden medal, they shouldn't be in the final in the first instance...

robosky02:
FIFA rankings: Super Eagles rise to 26th, 3rd in Africa after AFCON brilliance

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/fifa-rankings-super-eagles-rise-to-26th-3rd-in-africa-after-afcon-brilliance/amp/uh

When will Tinubu deliver the positive change APC promised us 11 years ago, when he made his expired Buhari president, so that our economy's brilliance can be returned to the top of Africa?

Why did we allow Tinubu confuse us to swap PDP prosperity of deregulation and privatisation for APC extreme poverty shege in 2015

Nemere2020:
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Chief Olawale Edun has said the last time Nigeria’s economy looked stable was about a decade ago.

He made this statement during his maiden press conference as Minister of Finance where he outlined President Bola Tinubu’s vision, agenda and strategy for the economy.

He said, “I think as we all know, we are not where we should be. The economy is barely growing above the rate of population growth.

“But it was not always so, and I think in trying to look at the way forward, if we now have a situation of slow growth, double-digit inflation, weak/depreciating exchange rate, as well as security concerns that are resulting in an economy that is not growing and not taking Nigerians out of poverty.

“If we think back to the last time when the economy was stable- when it was growing, when inflation was low, and the interest rate was affordable, that period was about a decade ago. Growth was about 6% in 2013 and 2014.”

https://nairametrics.com/2023/09/01/the-last-time-nigerias-economy-was-stable-was-about-a-decade-ago-wale-edun/

robosky02:
TOP 10 AFRICAN TEAMS IN LATEST FIFA RANKINGS

1. Morocco 🇲🇦 (
2. Senegal 🇸🇳 (12)
3. Nigeria 🇳🇬 (26)
4. Algeria 🇩🇿 (28)
5. Egypt 🇪🇬 (31)
6. Cote d'Ivoire 🇨🇮 (37)
7. Cameroon 🇨🇲 (45)
8. Tunisia 🇹🇳 (47)
9. DR Congo 🇨🇩 (48)
10. Mali 🇲🇱 (54)

#FIFARankings #AfricanFootball

Morocco is 8th why hiding it?

Okay. Good for them. Nice one, but after World Cup, it may go downward spiral because of our non-involvement in it

Sonnobax15:
Stop talking rubb1sh.

As if most of the African countries representing Africa won't be eliminated from the group stage

Senegal and morocco will go far

AMI3:
Are u telling me that that it is because of last world cup performance that makes them to rank higher than other African countries?

Yes it is
They knocked out Portugal and Spain in the biggest football tournament. Do you know how many points you get for that? Knocking out 2 teams in the top 10.
That's not an easy feat

helinues:
So the teams going to world cup are not going to play friendly matches with Nigeria?

Do you have a comprehension problem?

Shocking how the third in d AFCONS did not qualify for d world cup
Only happens in craaaaaaaaazy corn trees like ours