FIFA Rankings: Eagles end 2025 in 38th position

Nigeria will close out 2025 ranked 38th in the world, according to the final FIFA men’s world ranking released on Monday (yesterday), ending a year of fluctuating fortunes with a modest net rise for the Super Eagles, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The ranking leaves Nigeria unchanged from the previous update published on November 19, when they climbed three places from 41st.

They also finish the year as Africa’s sixth highest-ranked national team, a position they have retained since November.

The Super Eagles began 2025 ranked 44th globally and finish six places higher, underlining a gradual recovery despite inconsistency and a demanding international schedule.

The first ranking update of the year, released in April, saw Nigeria rise one place to 43rd. That upward movement stalled in mid-year, with the Eagles slipping to 44th in July and then 45th in September following a run of mixed results.

October marked a clear turning point, as Nigeria surged four places to 41st, their sharpest climb in a single update since February 2024, when they jumped 14 places after finishing runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. A further three-place rise in November lifted them to 38th, where they remain at year’s end.

On the African front, Morocco continue to lead the continent, holding steady at 11th in the world after their triumph at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025. Senegal remain second in Africa and 19th globally, while Algeria moved up to 34th, overtaking Egypt, who dropped to 35th and fifth on the continent. Nigeria therefore end the year behind Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt among African sides.

At the summit of the global ranking, there was no movement among the top 10. European champions Spain finish 2025 ranked number one, having reclaimed top spot in September, ahead of world champions Argentina in second place.

France complete the podium in third, with England fourth and Brazil fifth. Portugal sit sixth, followed by the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Croatia rounding out the top 10.

The December ranking, the final edition of 2025, was shaped by 42 international matches, with the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar the standout competition. Morocco and Jordan played the most matches during the window, six each, while Jordan were among the biggest climbers overall, rising two places to 64th after finishing runners-up.

Attention will now turn to competitive fixtures as the Super Eagles begin their quest for a fourth AFCON title today against Tanzania, with the next FIFA ranking scheduled for release on January 19, a day after the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco, where Nigeria will hope results on the pitch translate into further upward movement.