Nigeria’s Super Eagles have climbed four places to 41st in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings, returning to the top five in Africa.

The rise, from 45th, follows strong performances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, including a 2–1 win over Lesotho in Polokwane and a 4–0 victory against Benin in Uyo. These results have also secured Nigeria’s place in the continental playoffs.

The Super Eagles will next face Gabon (77th globally, 15th in Africa) for a spot in the final playoff round, where they may meet Cameroon or DR Congo.

On the African continent, Morocco remains highest-ranked at 12th globally, followed by Senegal (18th), Egypt (32nd), Algeria (35th), and Nigeria in fifth place. Other African top-ten teams include Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Mali, Cameroon, and South Africa.