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By Joe Apu
Nigeria men’s national basketball team have dropped three places in the latest FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, slipping to fifth on the African continent following the conclusion of Window 2 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
The decline marks a setback for D’Tigers, who had previously maintained a stronger foothold among Africa’s elite but now trail several continental rivals after the most recent round of matches.
Among Africa’s biggest gainers is Côte d’Ivoire men’s national basketball team, who remain unbeaten after three games in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers and climbed to 38th globally — the highest-ranked African side to make upward movement in the latest update.
Unbeaten Mali men’s national basketball team also strengthened their position after an impressive Window 2 campaign, while traditional heavyweights Senegal men’s national basketball team and Tunisia men’s national basketball team remain firmly ahead in the continental pecking order.
Nigeria’s three-step drop underscores the tightening competition within Africa, where ranking margins have grown increasingly slim amid improved performances across the board.
Globally, USA Basketball retained top spot after advancing to the Second Round of the Americas Qualifiers. However, the battle behind them remains intense, with fewer than three ranking points separating Serbia, France and Canada in the race for podium positions.
The narrow margins are equally evident across other tiers of the standings, highlighting how every qualifying window now carries significant ranking implications.
For Nigeria, attention will now turn to the next qualification window as they seek to reclaim lost ground both continentally and globally in the race toward the 2027 showpiece.
