Super Eagles’ move from 42nd in the world to 28th in the latest FIFA rankings has seen them record their best leap since 2013.
Nigeria moved 14 places in the world and are now third in Africa, moving three places up from their previous sixth position.
This is the Super Eagles’ highest tally since May 2013, when the Eagles were also ranked 28th in the world. A few days after winning the AFCON in 2013, they were ranked 30th before moving up two places in May.
Although they didn’t win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations like they did in 2013, Nigeria’s latest rise is not unconnected to their performance at the tournament in Ivory Coast where they settled for silver, no thanks to a 2-1 defeat against the hosts in the final.
The final was Jose Peseiro’s only loss in the tournament as they went through the group stages and the knockout stages unbeaten.
AFCON winners, Ivory Coast also moved ten places from 49th in the world to 39th as the fourth-best team in Africa while Morocco (12th) and Senegal (17th) maintained their lead as the best African teams despite a disappointing AFCON. Egypt are fifth on the continent and 36th in the world.
