FIFA rankings: Nigeria climb to 28th globally — highest since 2013

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up fourteen places from 42nd to 28th in the world based on FIFA’s latest rankings.

According to the list released on Thursday by the world football governing body, the three-time African champions also moved three steps up from sixth to third on the continent.

The latest spot on the ranking is the team’s highest globally since May 2013, when the Eagles were ranked 28th also.

Nigeria’s massive leap in the rating was due to the Eagles’ silver-winning campaign at the recently concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

The team only lost 2-1 to Cote d’Ivoire in the final after an unbeaten run through other stages of the competition.

The eventual winners moved ten places from 49th in the world to 39th, while Morocco and Senegal maintained their lead as the best African teams despite a disappointing AFCON.

Other African countries also experienced huge jumps in their rankings globally: Angola moved up 24 places to 94th from 118th, Equatorial Guinea got boosted by nine spots to 74th, and South Africa rose by eight slots to 58th.

Meanwhile, Argentina remained number one in the world while France and Brazil maintained second and third spots, respectively. England and Belgium took the fourth and fifth positions in the ranking.

The next FIFA world ranking will be released on April 4, 2024.