Super Eagles: AFCON 2025 heroics sponsor best FIFA ranking in 15 years

The Super Eagles have made their strongest move in the FIFA World Rankings in more than a decade, climbing to 26th in the latest update released on Thursday.

The Eric Chelle-led side ended 2025 ranked 38th, but a productive international window, anchored by a strong AFCON 2025 outing, has lifted them twelve places in one jump.

It is the country’s highest position in over 15 years and a rare moment of clear upward momentum in recent times. FIFA’s figures show Nigeria gained 79 ranking points, the highest increase recorded by any national team in this update.

That jump places the Super Eagles among the standout movers globally and restores them to a level last seen around 2010, when they briefly hovered near the top 20. Since then, ranking progress had been inconsistent, making this climb both notable and difficult to ignore.

AFCON 2025 performance behind Super Eagles rise

The improvement is closely tied to Nigeria’s performance at AFCON 2025 in Morocco. The Super Eagles finished third, securing bronze after beating Egypt in the playoff.

Nigeria won five matches and drew two in regulation time, with their only defeat coming against hosts Morocco in a semi-final decided on penalties. Over the course of the competition, the Super Eagles recorded wins against Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Mozambique and Algeria, showing control across different tactical demands.

Their attacking output stood out as well. Nigeria finished AFCON 2025 as the tournament’s top scorers with 14 goals, the highest total in their history at a single Africa Cup of Nations.