Nigeria’s senior women’s football team, the Super Falcons, have retained their 36th position in the latest global rankings released by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on Friday, August 16, 2024. Despite their disappointing performance at the recently concluded Women’s Summer Olympics in Paris, the Falcons remain the highest-ranked women’s football team in Africa.
The Super Falcons, who have long dominated African women’s football, faced a challenging Olympic campaign in Paris. The team failed to advance beyond the group stage after suffering three consecutive defeats. They lost narrowly to Brazil and Spain, both by 1-0 margins, and were dealt a heavy 3-1 defeat by Japan, finishing at the bottom of Group C.
Despite these setbacks, the Super Falcons have managed to maintain their position as Africa’s top team, a testament to their enduring reputation on the continent. Following Nigeria in the African rankings are South Africa, ranked 50th globally, Morocco at 59th, Zambia at 62nd, and Ghana at 66th.
The latest FIFA rankings also highlight the top 10 women’s football teams in the world, with the United States leading the pack, followed by England, Spain, Germany, and Sweden. Canada, Japan, Brazil, Korea DPR, and France round out the top 10.
The Super Falcons’ standing as Africa’s leading women’s football team remains secure for now, but their recent Olympic performance has sparked calls for reflection and improvement. Coach Randy Waldrum, who has previously blamed the team’s struggles on poor preparation, now faces the challenge of rebuilding and refocusing the squad ahead of future international competitions.
As the Super Falcons continue to represent Nigeria on the global stage, there is hope that lessons learned from their Olympic experience will lead to a stronger and more competitive team in the years to come.
