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By Joe Apu
Nigeria moved up three steps to place 50th and 7th on the continent in the in the latest FIBA World Rankings released for December after the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, as major basketball nations recorded key results that reshaped portions of the global table.
This ranking which is the first release since the introduction of a new improved system and despite Nigeria’s 1-2 record in Tunisia, D’Tigers gained steps.
Still in Africa, the biggest shake-ups came from Guinea, which surged two places after finishing the opening window of the African Qualifiers as the only undefeated team. Rwanda jumped nine spots to 81st, while Libya climbed five to 91st but South Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt and Cape Verde remain top five on the continent.
These shifts leave Nigeria’s standing stable for now, with the next window in February 2026 expected to determine whether the D’Tigers can gain ground on rising African rivals or risk pressure from below. Teams in Groups B and D — including several African sides yet to play — are projected to earn points once their qualification campaigns resume.
The United States retained the world’s No. 1 spot after securing back-to-back victories over Nicaragua in the Americas Qualifiers, extending the momentum from their Paris 2024 Olympic gold. Defending World Cup champions Germany also held firm at No. 2 following wins over Israel and Cyprus in the European Qualifiers.
While the top 10 remained unchanged — with Canada closing in on France and Brazil narrowing the gap on Lithuania — significant movement began just outside the elite bracket. Türkiye climbed to No. 11 after a perfect window, overtaking Latvia, whose 1-1 record leaves them just ahead of Greece by a slim margin.
Across the continents, Lebanon (Asia), Mexico (Americas), and Cape Verde (Africa) were among the highest-ranked movers.
Further down the table, Jamaica posted one of the most dramatic leaps globally, climbing eight places to No. 87 after a pair of wins over Puerto Rico. World Cup 2027 hosts Qatar also rose five places to 78th following a historic win against Lebanon.
Four new nations entered the rankings thanks to their participation in the FIBA Melanesian Cup 2025, with champions Papua New Guinea debuting at No. 157. Fiji climbed five places to No. 147 after reaching the final.
As global movement accelerates, Nigeria’s next appearance in the qualifiers will be crucial to securing upward progress in an increasingly competitive African and international field.
