Nigeria’s Super Falcons have slipped one place to 37th in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking released on Thursday. Despite the slight drop, the team remains the highest-ranked side in Africa and continues to lead the continent.
The fall ends their six-ranking stay in 36th position. Nigeria’s recent results — a 2-0 win away to Benin Republic and a 1-1 draw in Abeokuta during their WAFCON qualifiers — were enough to secure qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, but not enough to improve their global standing.
While the Falcons did not play any friendly matches during the most recent international window, several of their African rivals took full advantage of the period to earn valuable points and close the gap.
South Africa, Ghana, Zambia and Morocco all played competitive friendlies, boosting their rankings. Ghana climbed five places to 62nd, becoming Africa’s third-best team behind Nigeria and South Africa. Zambia and Morocco also benefited from their international fixtures.
With Nigeria inactive, the top five teams in Africa now stand as:
- Nigeria – 37th
- South Africa – 55th
- Ghana – 62nd
- Zambia – 64th
- Morocco – 66th
At global level, Spain remain first, followed by the United States, Germany, England and Sweden.
The Super Falcons will now look ahead to the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco, where they aim to defend their title. With rivals improving and the hosts eager for revenge, Nigeria will need strong preparation to stay ahead and maintain their position as Africa’s dominant women’s football team.
