Nigeria’s Super Eagles have ascended three spots in the most recent FIFA men’s world rankings, rising from 39th to 36th place.
The rankings, made public on Thursday, October 24, were posted on FIFA’s official website, showcasing Nigeria’s revival under interim coach Augustine Eguavoen.
Eguavoen’s appointment has brought stability and improved results, helping Nigeria maintain its position among Africa’s top five nations.
In Africa, the Super Eagles have made notable progress, advancing from sixth to fourth place, now positioned behind Morocco (13th globally), Senegal (20th), and Egypt (30th).
This advancement allows Nigeria to surpass the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations champions, Cote d’Ivoire, and Tunisia, both of whom have fallen out of the continent’s top five.
The Benin Republic, set to host Nigeria in the upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifiers, has dropped to 95th in the rankings, while Rwanda, another qualifier opponent, has risen to 126th.
Additionally, Libya, part of the same qualifying group, has fallen to 122nd place.
The return of Eguavoen has provided stability and enhanced performance, enabling the Super Eagles to regain their competitive edge.
His guidance has been crucial in Nigeria’s ascent in the rankings, particularly as traditional African football giants Ghana and South Africa face challenges.
Ghana has slipped to 73rd, while South Africa is now ranked 60th.
In other developments, Algeria has improved by four positions to 37th, just behind Nigeria, and Cameroon has ascended to 49th.
Smaller African nations have also seen significant improvements, with Botswana rising seven spots to 140th, and both Comoros and Sudan climbing 10 places to 108th and 110th, respectively.
On the global stage, Argentina continues to hold the top position, followed by France in second and Spain in third, with other well-known footballing nations maintaining their standings in the top 10.
