The Super Falcons
Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, have moved up in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings, rising one place to 36th globally while maintaining their position as Africa’s highest-ranked team.
The updated ranking, released on Tuesday, shows the Falcons improving from 37th place in the December 2025 standings.
The slight rise reflects their recent performances in international friendlies ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) preparations.
The ranking movement was influenced by two friendly matches against Cameroon. Nigeria suffered a narrow 1–0 defeat in the first encounter in February 2026 but responded strongly in the return fixture in March, securing a convincing 3–1 victory.
In the second match, Chinwendu Ihezuo restored parity in the 32nd minute with a well-placed header from a Rinsola Babajide cross.
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Babajide then put Nigeria ahead just before halftime after capitalising on a defensive scramble. Michelle Alozie sealed the win in the 64th minute with another header from a delivery by captain Rasheedat Ajibade.
The Super Falcons gained 3.35 ranking points, moving to a total of 1602. However, this remains slightly below the 1607 points they recorded in December 2025.
Despite the global ranking of 36th, Nigeria continues to lead African women’s football. South Africa sits second on the continent, ranked 58th globally, followed by Ghana (59th) and Morocco (62nd).
On the global stage, Spain retain the top spot in the FIFA Women’s Rankings, followed by the United States, England, Germany, and Japan.
The Falcons’ latest rise underscores their continued dominance in African women’s football, even as they aim to close the gap with the world’s elite ahead of upcoming international tournaments.
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