Nigeria’s Super Falcons have retained their position at 36th in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking, which was announced on Thursday. This follows their impressive performance at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they clinched the title for the first time in a decade, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.
Despite significant shifts in the global rankings, with Spain ascending to the top spot and Bangladesh soaring 24 places, Nigeria’s consistent performance and leading status in Africa have allowed them to maintain their ranking since June.
The Super Falcons kicked off the July international break with a goalless friendly against Portugal in Lisbon, but quickly redirected their focus towards the WAFCON tournament.
In Group B, they convincingly defeated Tunisia and Botswana, followed by a draw with Algeria in their final group match, which did not impact their top position in the group. Coach Justine Madugu opted to rest several key players for that game.
With the clear goal of reclaiming the continental title, the Falcons overwhelmingly defeated Zambia in the quarter-finals, winning by a score of 5-0. This victory was perceived as a form of retribution, as Zambia had previously triumphed over Nigeria in the third-place playoff of the last WAFCON in 2022.
In the semi-finals against the reigning champions South Africa, Nigeria displayed remarkable composure and secured a 2-1 victory.
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In the final match, they confronted the host nation Morocco. The Super Falcons executed an incredible comeback, overcoming an initial deficit to win 3-2 in what is already regarded as one of the finest matches in WAFCON history.
Their record of five victories and one draw throughout the tournament has positively impacted their ranking points.
Nigeria now has a total of 1630.83 points, reflecting an increase of 7.54 from their previous score of 1623.29, solidifying their status as the highest-ranked African nation by a significant margin.
