The Super Falcons of Nigeria have maintained their position as the top women’s football team in Africa, according to the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday.
They also held steady at 36th place globally.
Despite not playing any matches since December, the nine-time African champions retained their spot, while some of their continental rivals experienced a drop in the global standings.
South Africa, the reigning Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions, remain second in Africa but fell four places globally to 54th. Morocco follows closely as the third-best team in Africa, ranking 60th worldwide. Zambia dropped two spots to 64th but kept their fourth position on the continent.
The new rankings come as preparations intensify for the 2024 WAFCON tournament, scheduled to take place from July 25 to August 26 in Morocco. The Super Falcons aim to secure their 10th continental title, having finished fourth in the last edition in 2022.
Their rivals — South Africa, Morocco, and Zambia — are determined to challenge Nigeria’s dominance at the upcoming tournament.
On the global stage, the United States continues to lead the FIFA rankings, with world champions Spain holding second place. Germany and England remain in third and fourth positions, while Japan climbed to fifth, pushing Sweden down to sixth.
Among other African nations, Kenya made notable progress, jumping seven places to 142nd, while Tunisia suffered the biggest drop, sliding 11 spots to 89th after losing 43.79 points. Djibouti also celebrated a milestone, reaching their highest-ever ranking at 195th.
The next FIFA women’s world rankings will be announced on June 12, with the Super Falcons hopeful of climbing higher ahead of the much-anticipated WAFCON tournament.
