Super Eagles Climb To 36th In FIFA World Rankings

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have made a notable leap in the latest FIFA rankings, moving up three places to secure the 36th position in the world. 

The October rankings, released by FIFA on Thursday, show Nigeria now boasting 1503.29 points after a series of international fixtures.

A key factor in Nigeria’s rise was the team’s 1-0 victory over Libya in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, held on October 11 in Uyo. 

This success not only boosted Nigeria’s global standing but also improved their continental ranking. 

The Super Eagles are now ranked 4th in Africa, surpassing their previous 6th position, and are currently behind Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt.

The latest rankings come after a busy month of international football. In October, 32 FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, 47 CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers, 79 Nations League matches, and 17 friendly games took place worldwide. 

This intense schedule has led to several shifts in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking.

Globally, Argentina remains in the top spot, though their lead over France (2nd) and Spain (3rd) has slightly decreased. England (4th), Brazil (5th), and Belgium (6th) maintain their positions, while Portugal (7th) and Italy (9th) have seen modest climbs within the top 10. 

The Netherlands dropped to 8th, while Colombia slipped to 10th. Germany, meanwhile, rose to 11th, just outside the top 10.

In Africa, several teams have also experienced upward movement. Algeria climbed four places to 37th, while Peru (38th, up 5), Greece (42nd, up 6), and Cameroon (49th, up 4) have all made noticeable progress. Within the continent, smaller nations like Equatorial Guinea (88th, up 6), Zimbabwe (117th, up 7), and The Gambia (128th, up 7) have shown significant improvements. 

Botswana’s leap to 140th, with a notable 38.30-point gain, marks the largest point increase overall.