D’Tigers Slip In FIBA Rankings As South Sudan Lead Africa

D’Tigers Slip In FIBA Rankings As South Sudan Lead Africa

By Niyi Busari 

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

The new standings see Nigeria fall from 50th to 53rd in the world with 271.2 ranking points, while maintaining eighth position among African teams.

The drop places Nigeria among the joint second-biggest fallers on the continent in the latest rankings, alongside Tunisia men's national basketball team, which also slipped three spots to 52nd globally. The biggest decline among African teams was recorded by Rwanda men's national basketball team, which fell five places to 86th.

Africa’s Top Teams

Within Africa, Nigeria remain eighth in the continental hierarchy. South Sudan men's national basketball team continues to lead the continent, ranking 25th in the world with 472.1 points.

Angola men's national basketball team occupy second place in Africa and 32nd globally with 416.8 points, while Ivory Coast men's national basketball team are third on the continent and 38th in the world with 358.9 points.

Egypt men's national basketball team are ranked fourth in Africa and 43rd globally with 319.7 points, followed by Senegal men's national basketball team in 48th with 295.9 points. Cape Verde men's national basketball team sit 50th with 282.3 points, just ahead of Tunisia in 52nd, while Nigeria occupy the next spot at 53rd.

Cameroon men's national basketball team and Mali men's national basketball team complete the continent’s top 10, ranking 59th and 64th respectively.

World Cup Qualification Race

Despite the drop in the global rankings, D’Tigers remain in contention in the qualification race for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Nigeria currently sit 11th in the African qualifiers’ Smart Power Rankings.

The team has shown resilience in recent competitions, particularly at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket, where they recorded victories over Madagascar men's national basketball team, Tunisia men's national basketball team and Cameroon men's national basketball team to finish the preliminary round with a perfect 3–0 record in Group B. However, Nigeria’s campaign ended after a 75–91 defeat to Senegal men's national basketball team.

Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes remain finely balanced. The team currently hold a 1–2 record in the African qualifiers and will need strong performances during the July qualification window to strengthen their chances of securing one of the five African slots for the 2027 tournament in Qatar.

Global Rankings Overview

At the top of the global rankings, the United States men's national basketball team remain number one after advancing to the second round of the Americas qualifiers.

The race among the leading nations remains tight, with Serbia men's national basketball team, France men's national basketball team and Canada men's national basketball team separated by fewer than three points.

Elsewhere, the Greece men's national basketball team moved into the top 12 after progressing to the second round of the European qualifiers, while the New Zealand men's national basketball team improved their ranking following away victories over the Philippines men's national basketball team and Guam men's national basketball team in Asian qualifiers.

Among African teams, Ivory Coast recorded the most notable improvement after an unbeaten start to the continental qualifiers, climbing to 38th in the world rankings.