Nigeria’s Super Eagles will head into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ranked among the continent’s elite after FIFA released the final world rankings of the year, Soccernet.ng reports.
According to the latest FIFA World Rankings published on Monday, Nigeria finish 2025 ranked 38th in the world, retaining both their global position and their status as Africa’s sixth-ranked team. It is a steady end to a year of fluctuating fortunes for the Super Eagles, who ultimately close the year six places higher than where they began.
The rankings provide a revealing snapshot of Nigeria’s standing on the continent as they prepare to open their AFCON campaign against Tanzania on Tuesday, followed by group games against Tunisia and Uganda.
The Super Eagles opened the year ranked 44th in the world. The first ranking update in April brought modest progress, with Nigeria climbing one place to 43rd. That early momentum stalled over the summer, as the team slipped back to 44th in July and then to 45th in September.
October, however, marked a decisive turning point. Nigeria jumped four places to 41st, their biggest single rise of the year and their sharpest climb since February 2024, when they surged 14 places following their AFCON silver-medal finish in Ivory Coast.
The November update added further encouragement, as the Eagles climbed another three places to 38th, a position they now hold heading into the continental showpiece.
On the African ladder, Morocco remain the continent’s top-ranked side, sitting 11th in the world. Senegal are second in Africa and 19th globally, while Algeria’s rise to 34th pushed Egypt down to 35th and fifth in Africa.
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How Nigeria compare with AFCON Group C rivals
The rankings confirms Nigeria’s status as Group C favourites.
Tunisia, ranked 41st in the world and seventh in Africa, sit directly below Nigeria. Despite an uneven December that yielded one win, one draw and one defeat, the Carthage Eagles have enjoyed a remarkable year overall, having started 2025 ranked 52nd.
Uganda end the year ranked 85th, a slight improvement from their starting position of 88th, while Tanzania endured a difficult campaign, sliding from 106th to 112th by year’s end.
Nigeria’s AFCON group schedule begins against Tanzania on Tuesday, continues with a pivotal clash against Tunisia on December 27, and concludes with a meeting against Uganda on December 30.
Globally, the top 10 remained unchanged. European champions Spain finished 2025 as the world’s number one team, ahead of Argentina and France. England sit fourth, Brazil fifth, with Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Croatia completing the top 10.
The next FIFA World Rankings will be released on January 19, 2026, a day after the AFCON final, when Nigeria will hope their continental campaign has pushed them even higher.
