Super Falcons FIFA ranking: Nigeria’s position in the world and Africa

Nigeria’s Super Falcons are ranked 43rd in the world in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking, released on October 20, 2026.

The ten-time African champions dropped seven places after losing 83.54 ranking points in the latest update. The Falcons’ previous position was 36th.

Despite the setback, the Super Falcons remain one of the most successful teams in African women’s football. Their record at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), regular appearances at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and history of competing against leading international sides make them a major force in the women’s game.

This guide covers the Super Falcons’ latest FIFA ranking, the team’s standing in Africa, their historical positions, how FIFA calculates women’s football rankings and how major tournaments influence Nigeria’s position.

Current FIFA ranking: Where do the Super Falcons stand globally?

The Super Falcons are 43rd in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking as of October, down from 36th in the previous official update.

The latest decline cost Nigeria 83.54 ranking points, after a difficult period involving WAFCON, African Olympic qualifying fixtures and international friendlies.

Nigeria’s highest-ever FIFA women’s ranking is 23rd, achieved in 1999.

• Current world ranking: 43rd
• Previous world ranking: 36th
• Movement: Down seven places
• Ranking points lost: 83.54
• Highest-ever ranking: 23rd, in 1999

Super Falcons ranking in Africa: Are Nigeria still No. 1?

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have traditionally been the best women’s national team on the continent after claiming ten WAFCON titles. No other nation has more than one title with Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Cameroon boasting one title apiece.

The Falcons’ also boast extensive experience featuring at every edition of the Women’s World Cup, before their failure to qualify for the 2027 edition.

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses are the three top competitors in Nigeria’s line of fire.

Cameroon won the title in 2026, South Africa secured the honour four years earlier while Morocco also reached the WAFCON final in 2022 and 2024.

How FIFA calculates the women’s world rankings

The FIFA Women’s World Ranking measures the strength of national teams using a points-based system. It considers four key factors: match results, whether a team plays at home or away, the importance of the match and the difference in strength between the two opponents.

FIFA uses a modified Elo rating model. In simple terms, a team gains points when it performs better than expected and loses points when its results fall below expectations.

The main factors are:

• Match result: Winning generally helps a team, while losing can cost points.
• Opponent strength: Beating a highly ranked opponent can produce a greater reward than defeating a lower-ranked side.
• Match importance: World Cup matches carry greater weight than ordinary friendlies.
• Playing venue: Home advantage is considered when FIFA evaluates a result.

World Cup finals matches are assigned more importance than regular friendlies. World Cup qualifying matches and continental competitions also influence the ranking.

This explains why a team can win several matches without making a significant jump if the opponents are lower-ranked, while a strong performance against an established football nation can have a greater effect.

Super Falcons FIFA ranking history: Nigeria’s position over the years

Africa powerhouse, Nigeria have never dropped out of the world’s top 50 on the FIFA ranking.

The following table summarises the team’s end-of-year rankings from 2019 to 2025, followed by its latest position in October 2026.

Year	FIFA Ranking	Context
2019	39th	World Cup year
2020	37th	Ranking improvement
2021	41st	Three-place decline
2022	45th	Difficult ranking period
2023	34th	Eight-place rise at the August update; strong World Cup campaign
2024	36th	Olympic year
2025	37th	Slight decline
October 2026 Latest	43rd	Seven-place drop in the latest update

Nigeria’s 2023 World Cup campaign was an important moment in their recent ranking history.

The Super Falcons reached the round of 16 in Australia and New Zealand, drawing with Canada, defeating Australia and holding the Republic of Ireland before losing to England on penalties.

How the Women’s World Cup and WAFCON affect the Super Falcons’ ranking

At the 2026, Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Falcons were the heavy favourites to beat all opponents and, at the very least, reach the semifinal of the tournament.

However, Nigeria lost to lowly Malawi and got dumped out by Cameroon while claiming expected victories over Egypt and Zambia.

A win over South Africa in the World Cup qualifier could have saved some of the team’s reputation. However, the Super Falcons stumbled to a 2-1 loss to the Banyana Banyana to confirm their first World Cup in history.

Despite a 7-0 aggregate win over Comoros, a slip down the FIFA ranking table is an unsurprising consequence of that inconsistent run of results.

FIFA Women’s World Cup

The Women’s World Cup gives Nigeria opportunities to earn valuable ranking points against teams from Europe, Asia, North America and South America.

The Super Falcons have made nine appearances at the FIFA World Cup since the maiden edition in 1991. The former WAFCON champions’ best outing was a quarterfinal finish in 1999.

Nigeria also made it past the group stage into the Round of 16 on two occasions, in 2019 and 2023. However, the Falcons will watch the 2027 party in Brazil from the comfort of their sitting rooms.

Super Falcons FIFA ranking: Frequently asked questions

What is the Super Falcons’ current FIFA ranking?

The Super Falcons are ranked 43rd in the world in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking released on October 20, 2026. Nigeria fell seven places from 36th after losing 83.54 ranking points.

What is Nigeria’s highest-ever FIFA women’s ranking?

Nigeria’s highest-ever position in the FIFA women’s world ranking is 23rd, achieved in 1999.

Are the Super Falcons the highest-ranked women’s team in Africa?

Despite their heaviest slump in months, Nigeria remain the number one team in Africa. The Super Falcons stay ahead of South Africa, Morocco, Cameroon and Ghana on the continental chart.

Are the Super Falcons ranked higher than the Super Eagles?

No. In the latest published rankings, the Super Falcons are 43rd in the women’s table, while the Super Eagles are 26th in the men’s table.

How often does FIFA update the Women’s World Ranking?

FIFA generally publishes the women’s rankings several times a year, often around four times annually. The exact dates can vary, though.

Why did Nigeria drop in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking?

Nigeria dropped seven places in the October 20, 2026 update after losing 83.54 ranking points. The decline followed a difficult period involving WAFCON, African Olympic qualifying fixtures and international friendlies.

Does winning WAFCON automatically make Nigeria No. 1 in Africa?

No. Winning WAFCON is a major achievement, but the FIFA ranking is calculated using results, opponent strength, match importance and venue. The highest-ranked African team is the one occupying the best position in the latest official FIFA table.

How can the Super Falcons improve their FIFA ranking?

Nigeria can improve their ranking by winning important matches, particularly against strong opponents, performing well in major competitions and avoiding unexpected defeats. The Super Falcons next face Morocco in 2027 as the race for the 2028 Olympic Games heats up.