FIFA Ranking: Nigeria end 2023 ahead of Haaland’s Norway, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have ended 2023 in 42nd position in the latest FIFA ranking released on Thursday. 

The Super Eagles were ranked 42nd last month, dropping two spots from their 40th position in October rankings. 

The three-time African champions have now maintained their position from last month, staying as the 42nd-best team in the world. 

It means Jose Peseiro’s men finish the year 2023 inside the top 50 as this is the last ranking for 2023. 

However, despite the disappointing finish, Nigeria are still ahead of their West African rivals going into next year’s Africa Cup of Nations. 

The Super Eagles are ahead of Erling Haaland’s Norway, the Black Stars of Ghana, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire. 

Peseiro’s men are sixth in Africa, behind Morocco (13th), Senegal (20th), Tunisia (28th), Algeria (30th) and Egypt (33rd). 

However, the Super Eagles will hope to improve their ranking when the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on January 13, 2024. 

Nigeria have been drawn alongside hosts, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea in Group A. 

Meanwhile, on the world stage, world champions Argentina remain top of the tree ahead of France, England, Brazil and Belgium. 

The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Croatia make up the rest of the top ten. The next FIFA Men’s World Ranking will be published on 15 February 2024.