LAGOS — The Super Falcons of Nigeria will head into the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as Africa’s highest-ranked team, having retained their 36th position in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking released on Thursday.
Steady Global Standing
Despite recording back-to-back victories over Senegal in international friendlies earlier this month a 2-1 win on June 5 and a 3-0 victory in Ikenne three days later the reigning African champions remained steady in their global standing. While the results underscored Nigeria's domestic form, they were not enough to propel the team past the European nations currently ranked immediately ahead, including Serbia, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic.
Nigeria continues to hold a comfortable lead over other African nations. South Africa remains the Falcons’ closest challenger on the continent, climbing one place to 57th globally following an impressive 1-0 victory over Japan. Ghana slipped one spot to 60th, while tournament hosts Morocco and Zambia round out the top five African nations.
WAFCON 2026: The Road Ahead
The FIFA update serves as the final ranking release before the 2026 WAFCON, scheduled to take place in Morocco from July 25 to August 16, 2026. Nigeria, seeking a record-extending 11th continental title, has been drawn into Group C, where they are set to face Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi.
The tournament carries significant stakes, as it serves as the official qualifying route for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The four semi-finalists will secure automatic qualification, with an additional opportunity available via the inter-continental play-offs.
Global Hierarchy
At the top of the global rankings, Spain remains the world’s number one team, followed by the United States, Germany, England, and Japan. France moved up to sixth place, while Brazil, Sweden, Canada, and the Netherlands complete the top 10, setting the stage for a competitive international cycle as teams gear up for continental and world qualifiers.
