Super Eagles Finish 2025 Ranked 38th in the World

The Super Eagles will close the year 2025 as the 38th best national team in the world, according to the latest FIFA rankings released on Monday. 

The ranking confirms Nigeria’s steady progress after a year filled with ups, downs, and late improvement.

Although Nigeria’s global position did not change from the previous ranking released in November, the final standing reflects a positive end to the year. The team had earlier moved up three places from 41st before settling at 38th, which they now carry into 2026.

Super Eagles started the year slow

The Super Eagles began 2025 ranked 44th in the world, a position that showed there was room for improvement. In April, the team climbed slightly to 43rd, raising hopes of a better year ahead. 

However, those hopes faded temporarily as Nigeria slipped back to 44th in July and further down to 45th in September.

Things began to change in October. The Super Eagles recorded their biggest jump in the rankings since February 2024, moving up to 41st. This rise followed their impressive run at the Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria finished with a silver medal.

The AFCON performance played a major role in restoring confidence in the team. By November, Nigeria climbed three more places to reach 38th, and that position has now been confirmed as their final ranking for 2025.

Super Eagles strong standing in Africa

Despite the mixed results during the year, the Super Eagles maintained a solid position on the continent. Nigeria finished as the sixth-ranked team in Africa, showing they remain one of the continent’s most competitive sides.

Morocco led African teams, sitting just outside the global top ten. Senegal followed closely behind, while Algeria and Egypt also featured prominently. 

Nigeria’s ability to stay within Africa’s top six highlights their consistency, even during periods of global ranking drops.

What you should know

On the world stage, Spain ended the year as the top-ranked team, ahead of Argentina and France. England and Brazil completed the top five, with traditional powerhouses like Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia rounding out the top ten.

For Nigeria, finishing 2025 ranked 38th represents progress compared to where they started the year. Ending six places higher than their opening position suggests that the Super Eagles are moving in the right direction.

The next FIFA rankings will be released on January 19, 2026, just one day after the AFCON final in Morocco. With major competitions ahead, the Super Eagles will be aiming to build on this momentum and climb even higher on the global stage.