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Super Falcons Rise to 36th in FIFA Rankings, Maintain African Supremacy
Nigeria’s senior women’s national team have once again underlined their dominance in African women’s football, climbing to 36th in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings while retaining their position as the continent’s top-ranked team.
The 10-time African champions move up one place from 37th—a modest but meaningful rise that reinforces their long-standing authority in the African game on the latest rankings, released on Tuesday, 21 April 2026.
Since the previous update in December, international fixtures have largely centered on preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. With qualification routes still tied to the yet-to-be-played Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), the Super Falcons used a friendly double-header against Cameroon to fine-tune their squad. After a narrow 1–0 loss in the first encounter, Nigeria responded emphatically with a 3–1 victory in the return leg—just enough to secure their upward movement in the rankings.
Across Africa, the chasing pack continues to shift without truly closing the gap. South Africa dropped three places to 58th but remain Nigeria’s closest challengers. Ghana (59th), Morocco (62nd), and Zambia (64th) are all within touching distance, while Cameroon sit 70th. Côte d’Ivoire and Algeria follow closely at 72nd and 73rd, respectively. Senegal’s climb to 80th and Mali’s steady hold at 85th further reflect the growing competitiveness and depth of women’s football on the continent.
Globally, Spain remain at the summit, with the United States in second place. England climb to third, overtaking Germany, while Japan emerge as one of the standout performers—rising to fifth after an unbeaten run to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup title. Brazil sit sixth, followed by France in seventh, while Sweden drop to eighth amid inconsistent form. Canada move up to ninth, and the Netherlands complete the top 10, pushing Korea DPR just outside to 11th.
Elsewhere, the rankings saw notable shifts. American Samoa recorded the biggest jump, rising 17 places, while Suriname experienced the steepest fall, dropping 14 spots. Kosovo registered the highest points gain, and the Solomon Islands suffered the heaviest loss. Türkiye also reached a milestone, climbing to their highest-ever ranking of 51st.
Meanwhile, the British Virgin Islands exit the rankings after four years of inactivity, bringing the total number of ranked teams to 197.
Attention now turns to the next update, scheduled for 16 June 2026, where the Super Falcons will look to continue their upward climb and maintain their firm grip on African women’s football.
