The Super Eagles climbed four places in the latest FIFA ranking released on Wednesday following their two wins in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last month.
The three-time African champions defeated Benin Republic and Lesotho to finish as Group L winners in the race to next year’s AFCON.
Gernot Rohr’s side moved up from 36th to 32nd in the world, gaining 13 ranking points in the process, from 1474 to 1487.
Nigeria also rose above Algeria and Morocco to third place in Africa. Senegal (22nd in the world) and Tunisia (26th in the world) are Africa’s top two teams.
One of Nigeria’s opponents in the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, Cape Verde, emerged as one of the biggest movers in March, rising seven places to 70th in the world and 14th in Africa.
Liberia, who are also in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying group, moved up one spot to 151st in the world and 34th in Africa.
However, another of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying opponents, Central African Republic, dropped four steps to 118th in the world and 31st in Africa.
According to FIFA, 185 games – predominantly qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 – were played since the last edition of the ranking February.
Belgium remain the world’s top ranked team ahead of France and Brazil, while England and Portugal complete the top five.
