By Daniel Edu
The Super Eagles of Nigeria concluded the year 2023 occupying the 42nd position in the most recent FIFA ranking, capping a year marked by a mix of performances.
Following their failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles underwent a rebuilding phase under the guidance of coach Jose Peseiro in preparation for 2023. The team kicked off the year on a positive note by comfortably securing a top spot in their qualification group for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
However, the latter part of the year brought some disappointment, especially with the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The start of the qualification series proved to be a low point for the Super Eagles, highlighted by a draw with Saudi Arabia in an international friendly and a challenging victory against ten-man Mozambique in another friendly match.
The World Cup qualification series began with a 1-1 draw against Lesotho, followed by another 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe, resulting in the Super Eagles finishing third on the 2026 World Cup qualification table for the year. These outcomes raised concerns about the team’s preparedness for the upcoming 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, scheduled to commence on January 13.
The Super Eagles concluded the year with four wins, three draws, and one defeat, indicating a reasonably satisfactory performance. However, the quality of teams they drew with tempered the overall assessment. Consequently, Jose Peseiro and his team ended the year as the 42nd-ranked team globally and the 6th-ranked team in Africa.
Morocco maintained its status as the highest-ranked African team and the 13th globally, followed by Senegal in second place at the 20th position worldwide. Tunisia secured the third spot in Africa and 28th globally, while Algeria and Egypt, positioned at 30th and 33rd globally, respectively, completed the top five in Africa.
The top five countries in the overall FIFA ranking are Argentina, England, Belgium, France, and Brazil. The remainder of the top ten comprises Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Croatia, and Italy.