In the latest FIFA rankings released for October, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have climbed three spots to secure the 36th position globally. This surge in rankings comes as they gathered 1503.29 points during the evaluation period.
Ademola Lookman has been a standout performer since last season, notably contributing three goals that helped Atalanta clinch the UEFA Europa League title. This impressive form has led to his nomination for CAF’s African Player of the Year.
William Troost-Ekong, who captains the Super Eagles, has also made the shortlist of ten players vying for the prestigious accolade. His leadership was instrumental in Nigeria’s runner-up finish at this year’s AFCON, which was hosted by Côte d’Ivoire in February.
Additionally, Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has been nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year after his remarkable performances during the delayed 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire. The Super Eagles are also competing for the National Team of the Year award. Interestingly, Victor Boniface, who played a key role in Bayer Leverkusen’s first-ever Bundesliga title last season, was surprisingly left out of the Player of the Year nominations.
The award ceremony is set to take place in Marrakech, Morocco, this December. Current African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, along with Asisat Oshoala, who holds the women’s award, will be looking to defend their titles.
On the continental front, the Super Eagles faced Libya’s Mediterranean Knights on October 11, winning the first leg match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers by a narrow margin. However, their ranking could have improved even further had Libyan authorities not subjected the team and their officials to an uncomfortable situation at an abandoned airport during the return fixture in Benghazi.
CAF has promised a review of such incidents to alleviate tensions surrounding visiting teams. In the African rankings, Nigeria is now positioned fourth, moving up from sixth place in September, with Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt holding the top three spots.
The global rankings still see world champions Argentina at the top, closely followed by France and Spain. England, Brazil, and Belgium maintain their positions in the top six, while Portugal and Italy have made slight upward movements. The top ten is rounded out by the Netherlands and Colombia, with Germany inching closer at 11th place.
The recent international window was particularly hectic, featuring 32 qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026, 47 matches for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, along with 79 Nations League games and 17 friendlies, prompting significant shifts in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking. The next set of rankings is expected to be released on November 28, 2024.
