- Nigeria’s Super Eagles end 2023 in the 42nd position in the FIFA rankings, ahead of Ghana and South Africa
- Morocco leads Africa’s rankings, while the Super Eagles aim to boost their standing at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations
Nigeria’s Super Eagles concluded the year 2023 in the 42nd position, maintaining their standing from the November rankings, according to the recently released Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) year-end men’s rankings.
The three-time African champions outpaced their local rivals Ghana and 2026 World Cup group opponents South Africa in the latest FIFA rankings. Nigeria, positioned as the sixth-best African team, remains ahead of Ghana and Bafana Bafana of South Africa as they prepare for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
Ghana’s Black Stars, aspiring for a fifth AFCON title, currently sit outside the top 50 in the 61st position, while South Africa holds the 66th spot in the world according to the latest FIFA rankings.
Morocco continues to lead as Africa’s highest-ranked team, securing the 13th position, followed closely by Senegal (20th), Tunisia (28th), Algeria (30th), and Egypt (33rd).
The Super Eagles aim to enhance their rankings with a strong performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire scheduled to run from January 13 to February 11, 2024. Nigeria is drawn alongside hosts Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea in Group A.
On the global stage, world champions Argentina maintain the top spot in the latest FIFA rankings, leading ahead of 2022 World Cup finalists France, England, Brazil, and Belgium. The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Croatia complete the top ten. The next FIFA Men’s World Ranking is scheduled for release on February 15, 2024.