FIFA Ranking: Super Falcons retain 36th position in world, first in Africa

Super Falcons of Nigeria did not change position as they retained 36th spot in the latest FIFA World ranking.

The latest ranking was released on the world football governing body’s website on Friday, June 14, 2024.

In Africa, however, the nine-time Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions still remain number one.

Their Group C opponents in the football event at this summer’s Olympic games in Paris, Spain and Japan, maintained first and seventh places respectively in the world.

While, Brazil, who are also in the same group with the Falcons at the games, moved up one place to ninth spot.

Africa’s other representative at the Olympic games, Zambia now occupy 64th place.

The last time the Falcons did well in the ranking was August 2023, when they moved up eight places from 40th to 32nd.

The impressive movement in the ranking was as a result their impressive performance at the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

READ ALSO: Super Falcons seek proper preparation ahead of Olympics

Despite being drawn in a tough group that had hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada and debutants Republic of Ireland, the Falcons still qualifed for the round of 16.

Unfortunately, they lost to England on penalty shootout in the first knockout stage after 120 minutes of football ended 0-0.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking will be published on 16 August 2024.

Meanwhile, the Falcons would be making a return to the football event at the Olympics since Beijing 2008.

After their participation at the 2008 games, they missed three consecutive editions – London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

Their first ever appearance at the Olympic games was at Sydney 2000 where they lost all three groups against USA, China and Norway by the same