Nigeria’s national men’s football team, popularly known as the Super Eagles, has retained its global position in the latest men’s world rankings released by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the Switzerland-based international governing body for association football.
The rankings, published on Monday, 22 December 2025, confirmed that Nigeria remains 38th in the world, with no change from the previous update issued in November. The Super Eagles did not play any competitive international fixtures during the review period, which meant the country’s ranking points remained unchanged.
With a total of 1,502 points, Nigeria preserved its earlier tally from the November rankings. Okay News reports that the absence of international matches across the assessment window ensured stability in Nigeria’s position but also limited opportunities for upward movement on the global ladder.
On the African continent, Nigeria currently ranks fifth, trailing four other national teams. Morocco, a North African nation located in the Maghreb region, remains Africa’s highest-ranked side and sits 11th globally. Senegal, a West African country with recent continental success, occupies 19th place worldwide.
Algeria and Egypt, both prominent North African football nations, are ranked 34th and 35th globally, respectively, placing them just ahead of Nigeria. The Super Eagles follow closely behind in 38th position.
Other African teams within the continent’s top ten include Tunisia, ranked 41st globally, Côte d’Ivoire at 42nd, Mali at 53rd, the Democratic Republic of the Congo at 56th, and Cameroon at 57th worldwide.
On the global stage, Spain, the European nation that reclaimed the number one position earlier in the year, continues to lead the world rankings. Argentina, the reigning world champions from South America, remain second, while France completes the top three.
England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia occupy the remaining positions within the global top ten, with no changes recorded among those teams from the previous ranking update.
The December 2025 rankings mark the final edition for the year and were influenced by 42 international matches, with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association Arab Cup Qatar 2025 serving as the major competitive event during the period.
Morocco’s triumph at the tournament significantly boosted its standing, bringing the team within 0.54 points of breaking into the global top ten for the first time since April 1998, narrowly trailing Croatia.
Outside Africa, Kosovo emerged as one of the standout performers of 2025, climbing 19 places to 80th globally after recording seven wins and two draws from ten matches. Norway and Suriname also registered notable improvements over the year.
In the December update specifically, Jordan, Vietnam, and Singapore recorded the biggest upward movements, each climbing between two and three places.
Nigeria’s continued presence at 38th reflects a period of stability for the Super Eagles. However, the ranking also highlights the importance of improved results as the team competes in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations 2025, where strong performances could significantly impact future global standings.
