Nigeria’s Super Eagles have made notable strides in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings, moving up three places to 36th globally.
This progress comes as a result of their strong resurgence under interim coach Augustine Eguavoen, who has helped bring stability and improved performances to the national team.
The new rankings, published on October 24, 2024, reflect Nigeria’s upward trajectory in both global and African football.
In the African continent, the Super Eagles have also risen from sixth to fourth, now sitting behind only Morocco (ranked 13th globally), Senegal (20th), and Egypt (30th).
This leap has allowed Nigeria to surpass the reigning AFCON champions Côte d’Ivoire and Tunisia, who both dropped out of the top five in Africa.
The rise in rankings signifies a resurgence for the Super Eagles, who are regaining their place among the continent’s football powerhouses.
Nigeria’s rise is especially significant given that traditional African football giants like Ghana and South Africa have continued to struggle. Ghana dropped to 73rd in the rankings, while South Africa is now positioned at 60th.
These shifts have created an opportunity for the Super Eagles to assert themselves once again as a dominant force in African football.
One of the key factors behind Nigeria’s recent improvement has been the leadership of Augustine Eguavoen, whose interim appointment as coach has had a positive impact on the team’s performance.
Eguavoen has implemented tactical stability and brought confidence back to the squad, which has translated into better results on the field.
Under his guidance, the Super Eagles have performed well in recent fixtures, and their momentum has been reflected in their improved FIFA ranking.
As Nigeria prepares for their upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifiers, they will face teams like Benin Republic, who have slipped to 95th in the global rankings, and Rwanda, who climbed to 126th.
Additionally, Libya, another opponent in the same qualifying group, has dropped to 122nd. These ranking changes could provide Nigeria with a favorable position as they aim to secure qualification for the next Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Elsewhere on the African continent, Algeria has also shown improvement, climbing four spots to 37th globally, just behind Nigeria. Cameroon also made a move up the rankings, now sitting in 49th place.
Other smaller African nations have seen notable gains, such as Botswana, which climbed seven places to 140th, and Comoros and Sudan, both of which surged 10 places to 108th and 110th, respectively.
These improvements show that African football is becoming increasingly competitive, with many nations making progress in the global rankings.
On the global stage, there was little movement at the top of the FIFA rankings. Argentina continues to hold the top spot, followed by France in second and Spain in third.
Other familiar footballing powerhouses, such as Brazil and England, maintained their positions in the top 10, reflecting stability among the world’s elite teams.
With Nigeria’s recent rise in the rankings, the Super Eagles are poised to continue their resurgence under Eguavoen as they look ahead to future competitions.