Nigeria’s Super Falcons have fallen one place to 37th in the latest FIFA women’s world rankings released on December 11, 2025, yet they stay firmly as Africa’s number one team. The drop from 36th comes after the nine-time African champions sat out the most recent international window in November.
The ranking rides on the back of a stellar 2025. The Falcons lifted a record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco from July 5 to 26, staging a stunning comeback in the final to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 after trailing by two goals. Esther Okoronkwo and Rasheedat Ajibade led the charge. Their path was dominant: 5-0 over Zambia in the quarterfinals, 2-1 against South Africa in the semis, and group wins against Botswana and Cape Verde plus a 0-0 draw with Algeria.
In October, Justine Madugu’s side breezed past Benin 3-1 on aggregate (2-0 away in Lomé, 1-1 home in Abeokuta) to book a 2026 WAFCON spot. No matches in the last FIFA break meant fewer points to defend, triggering the one-spot slide.
South Africa, Ghana, Zambia, and Morocco round out Africa’s top five. Globally, Spain hold No. 1, followed by the United States, Germany, England, and Sweden.
The Super Falcons’ grip on Africa’s crown remains unchallenged despite the global dip. With WAFCON 2026 qualifiers locked and eyes on the next Olympics cycle, Nigeria’s women stay the continent’s benchmark.
