Omotayo Fashola
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have soared 12 places to 26th in the newly updated FIFA World Rankings, announced on Monday, January 19, 2026.
This significant jump, from 38th to 26th, comes after Nigeria’s stellar run at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, where they clinched third place and the bronze medal.
The team dominated the tournament, securing six victories in seven matches, with their sole loss coming in a nail-biting penalty shootout against hosts Morocco in the semifinals.
Nigeria now stands as Africa’s third-highest-ranked team, trailing only AFCON finalists Senegal (12th globally) and Morocco (8th worldwide).
Algeria and Egypt, both defeated by Nigeria during the competition, follow closely in fourth and fifth place on the continental rankings.
The global top 10 features Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia.
