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By Joe Apu
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, Nigeria women’s national basketball team, has moved up three places to eighth in the latest edition of the FIBA World Ranking Women, presented by Nike, consolidating its position as the top-ranked team in Africa.
The ranking update was announced by the world basketball governing body, FIBA, as it rolled out an adapted methodology for the women’s rankings following the introduction of a new system for the men’s rankings in November 2025.
Nigeria’s rise in the global standings underlines the continued progress of the team popularly known as D’Tigress, who remain firmly established as Africa’s leading women’s basketball nation.
FIBA said the revised ranking model is designed to make the system simpler, better reflect recent results, and reward teams that advance further in competitions.
Under the updated methodology, national teams earn points for every game played and do not lose points from previous results. Both teams in a match receive base points, while the winning side earns additional bonus points based on various performance factors.
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Matches played in the later stages of tournaments attract more points, meaning teams that progress deeper in competitions gain a greater advantage in the standings. Points awarded also vary depending on the competition and region.
The system is built on the same principles as the men’s ranking but includes adjustments tailored to the structure of the women’s international calendar.
One of the major changes is an updated discounting model designed to ensure the rankings remain responsive to recent performances.
With major women’s events such as the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, the Olympic Games and continental championships taking place annually, a 25 percent discount will now be applied to previous results before each major event.
FIBA also confirmed that the women’s rankings will be updated a maximum of two times per year — once after the main annual event and a second time in March to capture games played since the last major update.
The improved ranking system will be used for the upcoming Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournaments. The updated standings released after those events will determine the seedings for the draw of the next FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, scheduled for April 21.
