South Sudan Lead Africa as D’Tigers Slip in Latest FIBA Rankings

Posted : 06 March 2026

Nigeria’s men’s national basketball team, popularly known as D’Tigers, have slipped three places to 53rd in the latest global rankings released by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Despite the drop from 50th position, the Nigerian side still maintains eighth place among African teams with 271.2 ranking points.

Africa’s hierarchy remains led by the rapidly rising South Sudan men's national basketball team, who sit 25th in the world with 472.1 points. Angola men's national basketball team occupy second place on the continent and 32nd globally, while Ivory Coast men's national basketball team rank third in Africa and 38th in the world after making one of the biggest gains in the latest update.

Also ahead of Nigeria in the continental standings are Egypt men's national basketball team in fourth place, Senegal men's national basketball team in fifth, and Cape Verde men's national basketball team in sixth.

Tunisia men's national basketball team, who also dropped three places globally, are ranked seventh in Africa and 52nd in the world.

Nigeria’s slide places them among the joint second-biggest fallers on the continent alongside Tunisia, while Rwanda men's national basketball team recorded the largest decline, dropping five places to 86th globally.

Rounding out Africa’s top 10 are the Cameroon men's national basketball team and Mali men's national basketball team, ranked 59th and 64th respectively.

Despite the setback in the rankings, Nigeria remain firmly in contention for qualification for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar, currently occupying 11th position in the African qualifiers’ Smart Power Rankings.

D’Tigers had earlier shown promise during the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket, where they defeated the Madagascar men's national basketball team, Tunisia, and Cameroon to finish the Group B preliminary round with a perfect 3–0 record. However, their run ended in the knockout stage following a 75–91 loss to Senegal.

Nigeria currently hold a 1–2 record in the African qualifiers and will need improved results during the July qualification window to boost their chances of securing one of the five African slots for the 2027 World Cup.

At the top of the global rankings, the United States men's national basketball team remain number one after progressing 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 Canada men's national basketball team, with fewer than three ranking points separating the trio.

Elsewhere, the Greece men's national basketball team moved into the top 12 after advancing in the European qualifiers, while the New Zealand men's national basketball team improved their standing after recording away victories over the Philippines men's national basketball team and the Guam men's national basketball team in the Asian qualifiers.

South Sudan Lead Africa as D’Tigers Slip in Latest FIBA Rankings

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