Falcons end 2024 as best Africa team

The Nigerian Super Falcons have maintained their position as Africa’s highest-ranked team in the final FIFA rankings for 2024 despite remaining 36th globally.

The latest rankings, released on Friday by the World Football governing body, saw the nine-time African champions retain their continental supremacy ahead of South Africa, Morocco, Zambia and Ghana, who are ranked 53rd, 61st, 62nd and 66th in the world respectively.

The Falcons’ back-to-back victories over Algeria in international friendlies and narrow defeat to France did little to improve their global position, which remains a far cry from their best-ever ranking of 23rd achieved in June 2004 and March 2005.

This final ranking of the year comes after a challenging 2024 for the Nigerian women, who endured a disappointing campaign at the Paris Olympics.

The team failed to progress beyond the group stage after suffering three consecutive defeats to Brazil, Spain and Japan in Group C but had flashes of brilliance through Rasheedat Ajibade and Chiamaka Nnadozie.

Despite their Olympic setback, the Falcons have maintained their dominance in African women’s football continuing their remarkable run as the continent’s top-ranked team.

Other African teams in the Top 10 include Cameroon and Ivory Coast, ranked 68th and 71st globally respectively.

The Super Falcons will hope to improve their global ranking in 2025 as they begin their preparation for major tournaments.