Nigeria, Jan. 19 -- Nigeria's Super Eagles have recorded a major leap in the latest FIFA World Rankings, climbing 12 places to 26th globally following their impressive performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The new ranking, released on Monday, sees Nigeria rise from 38th position after a memorable AFCON campaign that ended with a third-place finish. Under the leadership of head coach Eric Chelle, the Eagles delivered a run defined by resilience and consistency, winning six of their seven matches at the tournament.

Their only setback came in the semi-final, where they narrowly lost to host nation Morocco on penalties. The team, however, responded emphatically by defeating Egypt 4-2 in the third-place playoff, u...