CAF Rankings: Nigeria’s Top-12 Place Under Threat After Club Exits
By TAYO TAIWO (T. T.) OLUWOLE
NIGERIA could lose its place among the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) top 12 associations in inter-club rankings after all four Nigerian representatives exited continental competitions in the preliminary rounds.
According to a circulated 2026 ranking, Nigeria sit 12th with 19 points, while Libya occupy 13th place with 15 points. Consequently, Libya now have an opportunity to close the gap, with Al Ahli Tripoli carrying the country’s hopes in the CAF Confederation Cup.
A strong run by Al Ahli Tripoli could lift Libya above Nigeria and potentially help the North African country reclaim four continental slots for its clubs. Under a hypothetical calculation based on fivefold seasonal weighting, reaching the quarter-finals could give Libya 10 weighted points, taking its projected total to 25. A semi-final appearance could raise the tally to 30 points.
However, those figures remain projections, not confirmed CAF rankings. The governing body’s five-year system considers results accumulated across the relevant period, including points that expire as older seasons leave the ranking cycle. Results achieved by clubs from other African associations could also affect the final standings.
For Nigeria, the early exits underline the importance of stronger performances in future continental campaigns. Meanwhile, Libya’s hopes of breaking into the top 12 will depend heavily on Al Ahli Tripoli’s progress and the final ranking calculations.
