Nigeria’s Super Falcons have maintained their position as Africa’s top-ranked women’s football team in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking, released on Thursday.
The nine-time African champions remain 36th globally, unchanged from the previous rankings published on December 13, 2024, despite not playing any matches since then due to club football commitments.
South Africa, the reigning Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions, holds onto second place in Africa but has slipped four places in the global rankings to 54th. Morocco remains third on the continent at 60th worldwide, while Zambia dropped two spots to 64th but is still the fourth-best team in Africa.
South Africa could challenge Nigeria’s dominance later this year at WAFCON, where a successful title defense could see them overtake the Super Falcons as Africa’s number-one team. However, Nigeria, boasting stars like Gift Monday, Rinsola Babajide, Tony Payne, Ifeoma Onumonu, Rasheedat Ajibade, and legendary striker Asisat Oshoala, will aim to reclaim the title they last won in 2018.
Globally, the United States remains at the top, followed by reigning world champions Spain in second. Germany and England retain third and fourth place, while Japan moves up to fifth, pushing Sweden down to sixth.
On the African continent, Kenya made one of the biggest jumps, climbing seven places to 142nd. Tunisia suffered the steepest decline, dropping 11 spots to 89th after losing 43.79 points. Djibouti also achieved its highest-ever ranking at 195th.
The next FIFA Women’s World Ranking will be released on June 12, 2025, with the Super Falcons hoping to climb higher ahead of the highly anticipated WAFCON tournament.
