Nigeria’s Super Falcons face World Cup doubt after sharp FIFA ranking fall

Nigeria remain Africa’s highest-ranked women’s team, but their place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup is under serious threat after the Super Falcons dropped seven places to 43rd in the latest FIFA women’s world rankings.

The rankings, released on 20 October, follow a disappointing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco. Nigeria had been 36th in June and entered the tournament as the continent’s leading side, according to Per Second News.

That status is now described as limited consolation after Nigeria suffered their first failure to reach a WAFCON semi-final.

Their tournament began with a 3-2 defeat by Malawi, although victories over Zambia and Egypt – a 1-0 win and a 6-2 success respectively – secured progression from the group stage.

Cameroon then ended Nigeria’s campaign with a 1-0 quarter-final victory. The Super Falcons subsequently lost 2-1 to South Africa in a 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off, leaving them facing the possibility of missing the global tournament for the first time.

Nigeria’s lowest ranking since 2022

The latest position is Nigeria’s lowest since 5 August 2022, when the team fell from 39th to 46th under former coach Randy Waldrum.

South Africa, who defeated Nigeria in the World Cup play-off, dropped two places to 59th. Cameroon climbed nine places to 62nd, while Morocco are 64th, Ghana 65th and Zambia 70th.

Nigeria’s recent results explain how the gap between their reputation and their ranking has widened. Their record over a short period included defeats by Malawi, Cameroon and South Africa, with each result carrying significant consequences in a ranking system based on performances over time.

Cameroon’s rise of nine places to 62nd is particularly notable, coming after their quarter-final win over Nigeria.

The Super Falcons were last seen by Soccernet in a 5-0 victory over Comoros, with the report identifying the main points from that result. Forward Asisat Oshoala’s career has also been examined through 10 records highlighting her status as an African legend.

Nigeria’s next ranking position will indicate whether the team can begin to recover from the fall. It will also provide an early measure of whether a new technical direction can close the gap between the side’s established standing and its recent results.