By Nigeria men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, have dropped three places to 53rd in the latest global rankings released by the Federation of International Basketball Federation (FIBA). Nigeria slipped from 50th to 53rd in the world with 271.2 ranking points but retained their eighth-place position among African teams.
The drop makes Nigeria one of the joint second-biggest fallers in Africa in the latest rankings, alongside the Tunisia men’s national basketball team, who also fell three places to 52nd globally. The biggest decline on the continent was recorded by the Rwanda men’s national basketball team, which dropped five places to 86th.
Despite the setback, Nigeria remain eighth in Africa. The South Sudan men’s national basketball team continue to lead the continent and are ranked 25th in the world with 472.1 points. The Angola men’s national basketball team occupy second place in Africa and 32nd globally with 416.8 points, while the Ivory Coast men’s national basketball team are third on the continent and 38th in the world with 358.9 points.
The Egypt men’s national basketball team are ranked fourth in Africa and 43rd globally with 319.7 points, followed by the Senegal men’s national basketball team in 48th place with 295.9 points. The Cape Verde men’s national basketball team sit 50th with 282.3 points, ahead of Tunisia in 52nd, while Nigeria occupy the 53rd spot.
The continent’s top ten is completed by the Cameroon men’s national basketball team and the Mali men’s national basketball team, who are ranked 59th and 64th respectively.
Despite the drop in the global standings, D’Tigers remain in contention for qualification to the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Nigeria currently sit 11th in the African qualifiers’ Smart Power Rankings.
Globally, the United States men’s national basketball team remain top of the rankings after advancing to the second round of the Americas qualifiers. They are closely followed by the Serbia men’s national basketball team, France men’s national basketball team and the Canada men’s national basketball team, with fewer than three points separating the trio.
