Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped one spot to 44th in the latest FIFA world rankings released on Thursday, reflecting a slight dip in their global standing despite holding firm among Africa’s football elite.
The update, which comes after over 200 international fixtures—including World Cup qualifiers and continental tournaments—places Nigeria as the fifth-best team on the continent. Morocco leads the African pack at 12th globally, followed by Senegal (18th), Egypt (34th), and Algeria (36th).
Although Nigeria fell by one place, they continue to rank higher than rivals South Africa (56th) and Ghana (76th), while Ivory Coast, which previously leapfrogged the Super Eagles, has now slipped four places to sit just behind Nigeria.
The minor slide in Nigeria’s ranking comes amid a mixed run of results in recent friendlies and tournament outings, including participation in the Unity Cup. While the team has shown flashes of promise, inconsistencies have kept them from climbing higher.
On the global stage, reigning world champions Argentina remain top of the table, followed closely by Spain, France, England, and Brazil. Notably, Croatia climbed back into the top ten, bumping out Italy, while Mexico rose to 13th after winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In Africa, Senegal’s rise into the global top 20 reflects their continued dominance, while Zambia made headlines with a five-place jump to 83rd, signalling growing competitiveness across the continent.
With World Cup qualifiers and key international friendlies scheduled for September, Nigeria will soon have another shot to improve their standing ahead of the 2026 tournament.
FIFA’s next world ranking update is scheduled for 18 September 2025.
