FIFA Ranking: Nigeria stay first in Africa, ahead of champions South Africa

The Super Falcons are the most successful team on the continent, and they remain the leading light following the latest global ranking

Following the March rankings released by FIFA, Nigeria’s Super Falcons are still the number-one team in Africa.

The Falcons finished fourth – behind champions South Africa, Morocco, and Zambia – at the 2022 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, relinquishing the crown they won in 2018. After that outing in August, the Super Falcons fell to their lowest rating of 46 on the FIFA ranking. 

Nigeria have claimed only one win – over Costa Rica – since then but remain ahead of South Africa, who are second on the continent, with Cameroon, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire completing the top five.

Interestingly, Nigeria moved three spots up the global ranking to 42nd. That is 12 rungs above African champions South Africa, placed in the 54th position. The three West African giants, Cameroon, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire, are 56th, 59th, and 64th, respectively. 

The United States remain the top team in the world, followed by Germany, while Sweden, England, and France complete the top five.

Two of the Super Falcons’ group stage opponents at the FIFA Women’s World Cup are in the top ten, with Canada sitting in sixth while co-hosts Australia are in tenth. Nigeria, however, fare better than Northern Ireland, which occupy the 45th position.

The Super Falcons’ best-ever placing on the FIFA ranking was 23rd in July 2003.