Nigeria moved from 37th to 36th position in the global standings, but the marginal rise masks a deeper decline in performance metrics, with their current tally of 1602 points marking a drop of five points from 1607 in December 2025.
It is their lowest points return since June 2023, when they were on 1555 points ahead of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Following that tournament, the Falcons enjoyed a surge to 1649 points, climbing from 40th to 32nd place.
Since then, however, their trajectory has steadily declined. They fell to 34th with 1627 points in December 2023 and further to 36th with 1616 points in March 2024.
Although they briefly stabilised around that position, fluctuating results and limited international activity have seen their points continue to erode, culminating in the current low.
Despite the dip in points, Nigeria remain Africa’s top-ranked side, more than 20 places above South Africa, who sit 58th. Ghana, Morocco and Zambia complete the continent’s leading five.
At the global summit, Spain remain first, followed by the United States. England have overtaken Germany into third place, while Japan have climbed to fifth ahead of Sweden, France and Brazil.
The latest ranking period also reflects Nigeria’s uneven international schedule.
The Falcons played only a double-header friendly against Cameroon in March, losing the first leg before winning the second, but were absent from the April international window, which allows for up to three fixtures.
Their inactivity has come amid growing concern over preparation for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for July 25 to August 16, which also serves as qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria are also yet to confirm opponents for the June international window, widely viewed as their final preparation phase before the tournament.
The absence of fixtures in April was compounded by reported withdrawals from potential opponents, with Togo and Cape Verde both reportedly pulling out of planned friendlies. There was also no official squad announcement for the window, leaving senior players frustrated.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade questioned the team’s preparation standards after the missed in April, contrasting Nigeria’s inactivity with the structured schedules of other national sides.
“We are not just preparing for the Women’s African Cup of Nations, we are also fighting for World Cup qualification. So, why are we not preparing with the seriousness and intensity this demands?” Ajibade questioned on her Instagram story.
“Abeg, wetin be all this one (what is all this?) for how long?” Ajibade lamented.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie also raised concerns, pointing to the contrast between the women’s team and the men’s programme, particularly the announcement of the Super Eagles Unity Cup campaign in the United Kingdom.
Nigeria’s preparation issues have not been isolated to this cycle. The team missed international windows in April 2025 and November 2025, with players previously voicing frustration on social media over disrupted schedules.
Since qualifying for the 2026 WAFCON last October, the Falcons have assembled only once, in a two-legged friendly against Cameroon in Yaoundé, losing 1-0 in the first leg before responding with a 3-1 victory in the second.
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