In the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday, Nigeria has climbed one place to 43rd in the world.
The Super Eagles finished 2024 in 44th position following a series of lackluster performances during the international break towards the end of the year. However, a 2-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali and a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in March during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers helped lift Nigeria slightly in the standings.
Among African teams, Nigeria ranks 6th, behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Algeria.
Argentina remains in the top spot, followed by Spain in second and France in third. England and Brazil hold the fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
Meanwhile, Japan and IR Iran, both of which secured World Cup qualification in the recent international window, retained their spots at 15th and 18th, while New Zealand moved up three places to 86th following their victory over New Caledonia, which secured their spot in the 48-team tournament.