The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has unveiled its first rankings of 2025, revealing that reigning world champions Argentina have maintained their top spot after a commanding 4-1 victory over Brazil. Amidst these global shifts, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have experienced a slight ascent in the rankings, despite facing challenges in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

Despite a mixed bag of results in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers during the March international break, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have edged up in the latest FIFA rankings. Eric Chelle, who took the helm in January as the permanent manager, oversaw his first two games. These matches saw Nigeria triumph 2-0 against Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, followed by a less inspiring 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Currently, the Super Eagles occupy the fourth position in Group C of the African qualifying series, trailing behind the group leaders, South Africa, by a significant six points, whom they are slated to face in the upcoming qualifying matches. Nigeria's aspirations of participating in the 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico, hinge not only on their performance but also on the outcomes of other teams' matches.

According to the FIFA rankings released on April 3, 2025, Nigeria has moved up one place, positioning them at 43rd globally, a step up from their previous 44th position. This advancement comes after the first international window of the year. Within Africa, Nigeria remains sixth. The ranking considers four games across Team A and B of the national team, including a 0-0 draw and a 3-1 victory against Ghana’s Black Galaxies, alongside the Super Eagles' win against Rwanda and draw against Zimbabwe.

Despite this upward movement, Nigeria's total points decreased slightly, from 1482 to 1481. Morocco, a 2022 World Cup finalist, continues to lead in Africa, holding the 12th spot worldwide, followed by Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and Ivory Coast in the continental rankings.

Historically, Nigeria's highest FIFA ranking was 5th, achieved in April 1994, while their lowest was 82nd in November 1999. Looking ahead, the team is scheduled to participate in the Unity Cup in May and June, a four-nation tournament featuring Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. A potential friendly match against Russia is also under discussion, pending confirmation from the Nigeria Football Federation due to the ongoing FIFA ban on Russian teams.

Nigeria's performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifying series has been described as subpar. They are currently in fourth place in Group C with seven points from six matches, the latest being a disappointing 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe. Unbeaten Ivory Coast are top of Group F with 14 points and are yet to concede a goal. Morocco remains the highest-ranked nation in Africa while Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Ivory Coast occupy the remaining top five positions.

Identified weaknesses within the Super Eagles squad have prompted discussions about potentially integrating foreign-born players to bolster the team, particularly as they prepare for the resumption of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September.