- The Super Falcons have surged eight places to claim the 32nd spot in the latest FIFA rankings for women's football.
- This remarkable jump comes in the wake of their performance at the Women's World Cup in Australia/New Zealand.
Prior to the World Cup, Nigeria occupied the 40th position on the global ranking, a standing that raised doubts about their potential at the tournament.
The 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations had seen the team struggle, casting shadows over their World Cup prospects. The tussle between the team, coach Randy Waldrum, and the NFF had further added to the uncertainty.
Nonetheless, the nine-time African champions defied the odds and delivered a commendable performance at the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Their group campaign yielded five valuable points, achieved through a thrilling 3-2 victory over co-hosts Australia and hard-fought draws against Ireland and Canada.
Unfortunately, the team's journey ended in the round of 16 following a penalty shootout loss to eventual finalists England, despite their strong display.
In the aftermath of the World Cup, FIFA, the global football governing body, has unveiled its latest rankings for female football. The Super Falcons have emerged as the 32nd-best team in the world and, notably, hold the number-one spot in Africa.
Parallel to Nigeria's climb, South Africa, who also made a historic appearance in the round of 16, have secured the 45th position globally, making them the second-ranked team in Africa.
Cameroon follow at 56th globally and third in Africa, while Morocco take the 58th spot worldwide, ranking fourth on the African continent.
Completing the top ten in Africa are Ghana, Ivory Coast, Zambia, Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, and Algeria.
At the pinnacle of the rankings, Sweden reign supreme as the number one women's team in the world.
After Spain's triumph at the World Cup, they are now second in the standings. The USA, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, and Canada form the illustrious top ten.
