In the most recent FIFA men’s ranking released on Thursday, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up 14 places from the 42nd to the 28th position globally.
This achievement marks the national team’s highest ranking since May 2013.
The climb is attributed to the Super Eagles’ performance in the just-concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Cote d’Ivoire.
During the AFCON tournament, Nigeria put up a remarkable performance, reaching the final and ultimately securing the silver medal.
Despite losing 2-1 to Cote d’Ivoire in the final, the team’s overall performance garnered recognition on the world stage.
The new FIFA ranking also places Nigeria as the third-best team in Africa, moving up from the sixth position.
Cote d’Ivoire, the AFCON 2023 champions, rose from the 49th to the 39th position globally.
Meanwhile, Morocco and Senegal maintained their positions as the leading African teams.
Argentina retained its top spot in the global ranking, followed by France and Brazil in the second and third positions, respectively.
The FIFA Men’s World Ranking is a system that evaluates the performance of men’s national football teams based on their outcomes in FIFA-recognised full international matches.
The next update for the FIFA world ranking is scheduled for April 4, 2024.
Meanwhile, News About Nigeria reported that in recognition of the Super Eagles’ achievements, despite their loss in the AFCON final, President Bola Tinubu awarded the team the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) national honour.
During the ceremony, Tinubu also tasked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, with providing each team member with a plot of land and a flat in Abuja.
