THE Super Eagles of Nigeria have risen to their highest position in five years in the FIFA ranking following their impressive outing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which ended in Morocco last night.
The three-time African champions finished third in Morocco after winning five matches and remaining unbeaten in open play, only losing on penalties to the hosts in the semi-finals.
The Super Eagles have climbed 12 places, the joint-most (with Cameroon) of any team in the ranking released tonight, to 26th in the world following their AFCON feat.
It is the Super Eagles’ highest position in the last five years in the ranking, with the previous highest in that period being 30th in April 2024.
Eric Chelle’s side also gained 79 points, the most by any team in the latest ranking.
Runners-up Morocco and champions Senegal also gained massively in the FIFA ranking following their AFCON exploits, with both finalists unsurprisingly making significant strides.
Despite suffering heartbreak in the final, hosts Morocco (8th, up 3) can take comfort from returning to the top 10 for the first time since April 1998, reaching their best-ever position.
AFCON winners Senegal (12th, up 7), have been rewarded for reclaiming the continental crown by scaling unprecedented heights of their own, but it is as you were at the top, with Spain (1st), FIFA world champions Argentina (2nd), and France (3rd) continuing to set the pace.
Morocco’s ascent has come at a cost for Croatia (11th, down 1), who have dropped out of the top 10, as well as for Belgium (9th, down 1) and Germany (10th, down 1).
Additional ranking success stories served up by the African showpiece include notable rises for Algeria (28th, up 6), semi-finalists Egypt (31st, up 4), dethroned holders Côte d’Ivoire (37th, up 5) and Congo DR (48th, up 8).
Morocco still the African ranking, followed by Senegal. The Super Eagles have risen to third on the continent.
Algeria (28th in the world) are fourth in the world, with AFCON semi-finalists Egypt (31st in the world) rounding up the top five in Africa.