Super Eagles Rise in Latest FIFA Ranking Despite Play-off Heartbreak

While the Nigerian Super Eagles didn’t secure a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, they still achieved a significant victory off the pitch, moving up three places to 38th in the latest FIFA rankings, released on Wednesday.

The promotion came just days after Nigeria’s dramatic play-off to qualify for the African World Cup, where they narrowly lost 4-3 to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on penalties. Despite the painful defeat, the defeat was officially ruled a draw in FIFA’s ranking system, preventing a significant drop in ranking.

Before the update, Nigeria was ranked 41st in the world and fifth in Africa.

A key boost was the Super Eagles’ decisive 4-1 victory over Gabon early in the qualifying campaign a result that significantly boosted their ranking points.

Nigeria remains in the top five in Africa, behind only:

Morocco (11th)

Senegal (19th)

Egypt (34th)

Algeria (35th)

Internationally, there were no changes at the top, as Spain, Argentina, France, and England maintained their positions. However, Brazil moved up to fifth place, overtaking the Netherlands and Portugal. Germany and Croatia round out the top ten.

For the Super Eagles, their rise in the rankings is a positive sign, a reminder of the potential of a team that is rebuilding and preparing for future tournaments.