The Super Falcons of Nigeria have secured an impressive 10th place finish out of 32 teams at the recently concluded 2023 Women’s World Cup, according to FIFA rankings. The tournament, which came to an end on Sunday, August 20, 2023, witnessed Spain clinching their first-ever title with a 1-0 victory against England in the final.
Spain’s victory marked a historic achievement as they became the second nation to win both the Men’s and Women’s World Cups, elevating their status on the global football stage.
FIFA has released its rankings for the participating teams in the tournament, which are determined based on their performance throughout the competition. However, there is an additional factor in play as teams eliminated in the same stage are further ranked according to the manner of their elimination.
Among the African participants, the Super Falcons of Nigeria have remarkably secured the highest position. Their ranking of 10th is a testament to their strong performance in the competition, surpassing other African teams and being only behind the United States of America (USA) in the rankings.
Throughout the Women’s World Cup, the Super Falcons played a total of four matches. Their journey began with a goalless draw against the Olympic Champions, Canada. They followed this with an astonishing 3-2 victory over tournament co-hosts Australia. In their third match, they secured another goalless draw, this time against the Republic of Ireland.
In the round of 16, the Super Falcons showcased their resilience against the Lionesses, reigning European champions. They held the Lionesses to a goalless draw even after extra time, eventually succumbing to a penalty shootout defeat.
Though both the Super Falcons and the USA faced elimination in the round of 16, the former champions managed to claim a higher rank based on their goal difference and performance during the penalty shootout.
The top 10 teams in the Women’s World Cup rankings include Spain at the first position, followed by England, Sweden, and Australia. Japan, France, the Netherlands, and Colombia also secure spots in the top rankings, with the USA and the Super Falcons rounding off the list at the ninth and tenth positions respectively.
Notably, the Super Falcons hold the distinction of being the highest-ranked African team in the tournament. Morocco ranks 12th, South Africa, the reigning African champions, sit at the 16th spot, and Zambia secures the 25th position.
As the Women’s World Cup concludes, some members of the Super Falcons have returned to Nigeria, while others like Michelle Alozie and Uchenna Kanu have resumed their club duties, leaving behind a trail of commendable performance and achievements on the international stage.
