Super Eagles Projected to Climb to 26th in FIFA Rankings After AFCON 2025 Heroics
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to achieve their highest FIFA world ranking in 16 years following a stellar campaign at the recently concluded 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Nigeria, who ended 2025 ranked 38th globally and fifth in Africa, are projected to leap 12 places to 26th in the January 2026 rankings.
This marks their best position since 2010, when they were ranked 15th in the world, and places them third on the African continent.
The rise comes on the back of an impressive AFCON 2025 run, where the Eagles remained unbeaten in open play across seven matches and clinched a ninth bronze medal after defeating Egypt 4–2 on penalties in the third-place playoff.
Nigeria also set a new scoring record at the tournament, netting 14 goals, their highest tally in AFCON history, while winning their first five matches in dominant fashion.
This achievement rekindles memories of Nigeria’s historic milestones in the rankings. In 1994, the Super Eagles reached fifth in the world.
Their second-best ranking came in 2006 and 2007, when they were placed ninth. The latest projection signals a resurgence for the three-time African champions, who now look poised to build on this momentum.
Elsewhere, Morocco, despite losing in the final to Senegal, are projected to climb into eighth place globally, their highest FIFA ranking ever, surpassing traditional European heavyweights Belgium, Germany, and Croatia.
Senegal, crowned African champions after their victory in Morocco, are also set for a historic rise, moving five places up to 15th, two steps above their previous best.
