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Nigeria’s Super Falcons have slipped one place in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking released on Thursday, moving from 36th to 37th globally. The drop comes after the former African champions were inactive during the most recent FIFA international window, a factor that contributed to their slight decline in the monthly standings.
Despite the one-spot drop on the global table, the Super Falcons maintained their dominance on the continent. The team, led by head coach Justine Madugu, remains Africa’s highest-ranked side, preserving a position they have held consistently due to strong performances in previous international competitions.
South Africa, Ghana, Zambia and Morocco follow Nigeria as the next strongest teams on the continent, rounding out Africa’s top five in the new ranking. These teams have shown steady progress in recent months, with several participating in friendly matches and international tournaments that boosted their standings.
Globally, Spain continue their impressive run as the number one women’s team in the world. The reigning world champions have maintained top form, cementing their place at the summit of the rankings. The United States sit in second place, followed closely by Germany in third. England and Sweden round out the top five, reflecting the continued dominance of European and North American teams in women’s football.
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The Super Falcons’ drop in ranking comes at a time when the team is preparing for a busy competitive cycle, including qualification matches for major tournaments. Analysts note that consistent participation in high-quality international friendlies and competitive fixtures will be critical to Nigeria’s efforts to climb back up the global list.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has previously acknowledged the importance of regular international exposure for the team, stressing that top-tier friendlies help improve the team’s technical development as well as their ranking points. However, scheduling challenges, funding concerns, and fixture congestion have sometimes limited the team’s opportunities for regular competitive action.
Observers say the Falcons’ stability at the top of the African ranking demonstrates their long-standing dominance on the continent but caution that rivals such as South Africa and Morocco—who both performed strongly at the last Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup—are steadily closing the gap.
As global women’s football continues to grow rapidly, ranking fluctuations such as this are expected, particularly for teams that are not consistently engaged in international fixtures. For the Super Falcons, the latest ranking serves as both a reminder of their continental strength and a signal of the need for sustained international engagement.
FIFA’s next ranking update is expected after the close of upcoming international windows, giving the Falcons an opportunity to regain ground if they participate actively in scheduled matches.
