Nigeria’s Super Eagles have recorded a significant drop in the latest FIFA rankings, falling from 36th to 44th globally.
The rankings, released on Thursday, reflect the team’s disappointing performance in the concluding stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifiers.
The team’s decline follows a 1-1 draw away to Benin and a shocking 2-1 home defeat to Rwanda in Uyo earlier this month.
Although the loss to Rwanda did not affect Nigeria’s qualification for AFCON, it has had a serious impact on their global ranking.
According to FIFA, the Super Eagles lost 21.06 points, reducing their total from 1503.29 to 1482.23. This represents the steepest drop of any country in the latest rankings.
Despite their global decline, Nigeria retained its fifth position in Africa, behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria.
However, the gap between the Super Eagles and their African rivals has widened, drawing attention to the need for improved performances to reclaim their place among the continent’s top football teams.
Globally, the drop to 44th highlights a decline in consistency for a team that has historically been regarded as one of Africa’s footballing giants.
For context, Nigeria’s highest FIFA ranking came in April 1994, when they were ranked fifth in the world after winning the AFCON and excelling at the FIFA World Cup. In contrast, their lowest position was 82nd, recorded in 1999.
Africa’s top 10 teams in the latest FIFA ranking:
-
- Morocco
- Senegal
- Egypt
- Algeria
- Nigeria
- Ivory Coast
- Cameroon
- Mali
- Tunisia
- South Africa
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