The aftermath of Nigeria's recent underwhelming results in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has taken a heavy toll on their FIFA ranking.
In the latest rankings released on Thursday, the Super Eagles suffered the steepest drop of any country, falling eight places to 44th in the world, down from their previous position of 36 according to FIFA.
The team’s struggles began with a 1-1 away draw against Benin and were compounded by a shocking 2-1 home defeat to Rwanda in Uyo earlier this month as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers came to an end.
Although the loss to Rwanda did not jeopardize Nigeria's qualification for the tournament, the broader consequences are now evident in their diminished global standing.
The Super Eagles dropped 21.06 ranking points, bringing their total to 1482.23, a stark decline from 1503.29 in the previous ranking.
This marks a significant setback for a team historically regarded as one of Africa's footballing powerhouses.
Super Eagles: African standings and global context
Despite the drop, Nigeria managed to retain their fifth position in Africa.
They remain behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria, who continue to lead the continental rankings.
However, the gap between Nigeria and their closest rivals has widened, highlighting the need for improved performances to regain lost ground.
Globally, Nigeria's fall to 44th underscores a decline in competitive consistency.
For context, Nigeria’s best-ever FIFA ranking came in April 1994, when they were ranked fifth in the world following their heroics at the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup.
Conversely, their lowest point came in 1999, when they slumped to 82nd.
Africa Top 10
- Morocco
- Senegal
- Egypt
- Algeria
- Nigeria
- Ivory Coast
- Cameroon
- Mali
- Tunisia
- South Africa
