Super Eagles finish 2023 in 42nd position on FIFA rankings

Nigeria’s Super Eagles finished 2023 in 42nd position after the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) released its end-of-the-year men’s ranking yesterday as they remained unchanged from their November rankings.

The three-time African champions finished ahead of local rivals Ghana and 2026 World Cup group opponents South Africa in the latest FIFA rankings.

According to FIFA.com, Nigeria, ranked as the sixth-best African team, is still ahead of their West African rivals Ghana and Bafana Bafana of South Africa going into next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Stars, aiming for a fifth AFCON title, are currently ranked outside the top 50 as they have been placed in the 61st position, while South Africa is ranked 66th in the world in the latest FIFA rankings.

Morocco remains Africa’s highest-ranked team as they are placed in 13th position, closely followed by Senegal (20th), Tunisia (28th), Algeria (30th) and Egypt (33rd).

The Super Eagles will aim to improve their rankings by putting on a strong show at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire next month which is scheduled to run from January 13 to February 11, 2024.

Nigeria have been drawn alongside hosts, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea in Group A.

Meanwhile, on the global stage, world champion Argentina maintained the top spot in the latest FIFA rankings ahead of 2022 World Cup finalists France, England, Brazil, and Belgium.

The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Croatia make up the rest of the top ten. The next FIFA Men’s World Ranking will be published on February 15, 2024.