This rise which marks Nigeria’s highest global position in nearly a decade comes on the heels of the Super Eagles’ third-place finish at AFCON 2025, where they secured the bronze medal.
Nigeria achieved six wins in seven matches, including a convincing 4-2 victory over Egypt in the playoff, with their only defeat coming on penalties to tournament hosts Morocco in the semifinals. �
With the new ranking, Nigeria stands as Africa’s third-best team, trailing only Senegal (12th) and Morocco (8th) in the continental standings. Algeria and Egypt complete Africa’s top five in the global rankings, positioned just behind Nigeria.
Africa’s Top Five in FIFA World Rankings (January 2026)
Morocco — 8th
Senegal — 12th
Nigeria — 26th
Algeria — 28th
Egypt — 31st
World’s Top 10 National Teams
The global landscape remains dominated by traditional powerhouses with the following countries holding the highest positions in the FIFA rankings:
- Spain
- Argentina
- France
- England
- Brazil
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Germany
- Croatia
