The Super Eagles of Nigeria has maintained its 39th position in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola Men’s Rankings released by the world football governing body for the month of September.

Though the Nigerian men’s national team’s ranking did not change from last month, they, however, remained above fierce rivals Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon and Algeria in the ranking released on Thursday.

The three-time African champions earned four points from their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers earlier in the month, with a 3-0 victory over Benin at home and a goalless draw against Rwanda.

The new FIFA ranking has also seen some African teams move up some places in their ranking, with Algeria, Congo, and Burkina Faso taking some steps up the table.

Cameroon dropped two places to 53 on the list while South Africa dropped to 59 and Ghana going down to an abysmal 70 having dropped two and six places, respectively.

Algeria (41) moved five places further on the list and are two places behind Nigeria, while Congo (58) and Burkina Faso (63) have moved two and four places, respectively.

The Super Eagles will be hoping that the recent performance will be taken into consideration in the next Fifa ranking list.

Nigeria dropped from 38th position to 39th place on the FIFA ranking a few months ago following several poor performances having failed to win their last four qualifying games under former head coaches Jose Peseiro and Findi Geroge.

However, they have maintained the 39th place in the world ranking following the newly released list by FIFA.

Kenya’s multiple world and Olympics champion, Faith Kipyegon, says she is considering as switch to other distances next year after dominating the 1,500m for many years with no serious challengers.

The Kenyan Golden Girl who already has three Olympics titles, a world record, and as many world titles, which makes her the greatest female athlete in history over the distance, added a fifth Diamond League title to her trophy cabinet last weekend, and says a switch to other races to test herself is not off the table in 2025.

“I hope to stay strong and healthy towards next year and see what I am capable of doing. I don’t know if I will still do 1,500m or move to 5,000m but I hope for the best next year,” Kipyegon told Athletics Weekly after grabbing the Diamond League title.

Kipyegon stated that she has been motivated by other athletes who have contested different disciplines, such as Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen who made his half marathon debut last weekend, and Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan, who has won titles in marathon, half marathon, 1,500m and 10,000m.

“I have seen Jakob is running in Copenhagen, I hope he gives me the motivation and I can also do half marathon.

“Also, Sifan Hassan doing half, marathon and coming to 1,500m, 5,000m, so I think it is only to twist how you think and say I am going to do this and hopefully we will do it,” she added.

Kipyegon has already proven that she has what it takes to compete in the 5,000m after winning a world title in Budapest last year, this coming after she had broken a world record, while she also claimed Olympics silver in Paris over the distance.

She had also previously expressed her interest in running a marathon in future and 2025 could be the year she starts the transition if she makes the decision.