FIFA Ranking: Nigeria move up eight places after fine Women’s World Cup outing

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

After a superb performance at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Nigeria’s senior women’s national team moved eight places during the latest FIFA women rankings released on Friday.

Super Falcons moved from the 40th position occupied in June to the 32nd position after keeping three clean sheets at the World Cup and going unbeaten in three group games.

The team remained the top-ranked women’s football team in Africa ahead of South Africa which also made appreciable movement on the rankings.

The top three ranked teams in Africa remained unchanged as South Africa maintained their second position in Africa and moved nine places to 45th in the world.

Cameroon which didn’t qualify for the World Cup also maintained their third position in Africa and 56 in the world.

Morocco was the biggest movers in Africa moving three places from seventh to fourth position and from 72nd to 58th in the world.

Another African representative at the World Cup, Zambia moved two places from ninth to seventh place in Africa and 69th in the world from their previous 77th position.

Ghana (fifth), Ivory Coast (sixth), Tunisia (eighth), Equatorial Guinea (ninth), and Algeria (tenth) complete the top ten ranked women’s football teams in Africa. The next rankings is expected to be announced on December 9.

1. Nigeria

2. South Africa

3. Cameroon

4. Morocco

5. Ghana

6. Ivory Coast

7. Zambia

8. Tunisia

9. Equatorial Guinea

10. Algeria