Following their impressive performance in the recently concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have experienced a significant ascent in FIFA’s latest world rankings.
The world football governing body released the updated rankings on Thursday, revealing that Nigeria has jumped fourteen places from 42nd to 28th globally.
This remarkable climb places the Super Eagles at their highest global ranking since May 2013 when they were also ranked 28th.
The surge in the rankings is primarily attributed to Nigeria’s silver-winning campaign in the AFCON tournament, where they reached the final but narrowly lost 2-1 to Cote d’Ivoire.
Not only did Nigeria rise on the global stage, but they also made substantial progress within the continent, moving three places up from sixth to third.
This places them among the top African teams, a position they achieved through their commendable performance in the prestigious tournament.
The AFCON winners, Cote d’Ivoire, also experienced an upward trajectory, moving ten places from 49th to 39th in the global rankings.
Despite their disappointing AFCON campaigns, Morocco and Senegal maintained their positions as the top-ranked African teams.
Other African nations witnessed noteworthy improvements in their global rankings: Angola rose by 24 places to 94th, Equatorial Guinea gained nine spots to 74th, and South Africa climbed eight positions to 58th.
In the overall FIFA world rankings, Argentina maintained its top position, followed by France in second place and Brazil in third. England and Belgium rounded out the top five spots.
The Super Eagles’ impressive climb in the rankings reflects the positive impact of their AFCON performance and sets a promising tone for future international competitions. The next FIFA world ranking is scheduled to be released on April 4, 2024.
