The Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up three spots to claim 36th place in the latest FIFA rankings for October, according to the world football governing body’s official website on Thursday.
Nigeria garnered 1503.29 points during the period under review, a significant improvement fueled by their performance in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Super Eagles secured a 1-0 victory against Libya in the first leg of the qualifiers on October 11 in Uyo, contributing to their rise in the rankings.
This improvement also boosted Nigeria’s standing in the continental rankings, where they now hold fourth place, trailing only Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt, up from their previous sixth position in September.
Globally, October saw a flurry of international football activity, with 32 FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, 47 Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers, and a total of 96 matches, including Nations League clashes and friendlies. These fixtures resulted in notable shifts in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Rankings.
At the top of the global rankings, Argentina remains in first place, although their lead over France in second and Spain in third has narrowed. England (4th), Brazil (5th), and Belgium (6th) maintained their positions, while Portugal (7th, up 1) and Italy (9th, up 1) climbed within the top 10.
The Netherlands (8th, down 1) and Colombia (10th, down 1) complete the top 10 rankings, with Germany (11th, up 2) just outside.
Among other teams making notable progress are Algeria (37th, up 4), Peru (38th, up 5), and Greece (42nd, up 6).
Additionally, Cameroon (49th, up 4) has returned to the top 50. In Africa, Equatorial Guinea (88th, up 6), Zimbabwe (117th, up 7), The Gambia (128th, up 7), and Botswana (140th, up 7) all made significant moves.