Nigeria’s Super Falcons moved up one spot to 36th in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings released on Tuesday,21st of April, 2026; rising from their previous position of 37th.
Notably, the improvement came despite the team not participating in one of the international break windows under review. The Falcons played only Cameroon in a double-header friendly arrangement in March, while missing the last women’s international break slot slated for mid-April. [
The slight boost was influenced by their pre-Women’s Africa Cup of Nations friendlies against Cameroon, where Nigeria lost the first encounter 1–0 but responded strongly with a 3–1 win in the return fixture. In that comeback victory, Chinwendu Ihezuo equalised in the 32nd minute with a header from a cross by Rinsola Babajide, who later put Nigeria ahead just before halftime. Michelle Alozie then sealed the win in the 64th minute, heading in from a precise delivery by captain Rasheedat Ajibade.
The Super Falcons also maintained their position as the number one team in Africa, with Banyana Banyana of South Africa, the Black Queens of Ghana, the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco, and the Copper Queens of Zambia completing the top five teams on the continent.
The team will be targeting a place in the WAFCON semi-finals, which guarantees qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while also aiming to defend the title they won for a record tenth time last year in Morocco.
The next FIFA Women’s World Rankings update is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
