Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped from 43rd to 44th in the latest FIFA World Rankings released on Thursday, reflecting a slight decline in global standing despite maintaining a strong position among African football nations.
The rankings, updated by FIFA following over 200 international matches played in recent months—including FIFA World Cup qualifiers and regional tournaments—place Nigeria as the fifth-highest ranked team in Africa. The top four teams on the continent remain Morocco (12th), Senegal (18th), Egypt (34th), and Algeria (36th).
Despite the drop, Nigeria continues to rank ahead of long-standing regional rivals Ghana and South Africa, who occupy 76th and 56th positions globally, respectively. Ivory Coast, who recently overtook Nigeria in a previous ranking, now sit just below the Super Eagles after dropping four places.
The Super Eagles’ latest position comes after a period marked by mixed results, including friendly matches and tournament appearances. The ranking also reflects adjustments made by FIFA in response to outcomes in continental competitions such as the Unity Cup, in which Nigeria recently participated.
Globally, Argentina retained the top spot, followed by Spain, France, England, and Brazil. Other African teams like Senegal recorded gains, with Senegal moving into the top 20 globally after a strong showing in recent matches.
Croatia re-entered the top ten, replacing Italy, while Mexico climbed to 13th following their CONCACAF Gold Cup victory. Costa Rica made the most significant jump globally, moving up 14 places to 40th after reaching the Gold Cup quarter-finals.
In Africa, Zambia gained five places to 83rd, highlighting further movement within the continent’s rankings. Nigeria’s next opportunity to influence its position will likely come with the September round of World Cup qualifiers and scheduled friendlies ahead of the 2026 tournament.
The next FIFA rankings update is expected on 18 September 2025.
