The Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped one place, from 38th to 39th, in FIFA’s latest world rankings, released on Thursday.
Despite the slip, the three-time African champions remain the fifth-best team on the continent.
This update follows the conclusion of recent international tournaments, including the European Championships in Germany and the Copa America in the USA. The rankings reflect Nigeria’s performance in the latest round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which has been less than impressive.
In June, the Super Eagles experienced a significant fall, dropping eight places in the global rankings. This decline offset the points they accumulated during their strong showing at the African Cup of Nations earlier this year. The recent dip in form was marked by a 1-1 draw against South Africa and a 2-1 defeat to the Benin Republic in their World Cup qualifying matches.
Despite the drop in the rankings, Nigeria maintains a points coefficient of 1,498.93, unchanged from June. This consistency indicates that while their recent performances have not been stellar, they have not lost significant ground in terms of overall points.
On the continental stage, the top three nations remain unchanged. Morocco leads the African rankings at 14th globally, followed by Senegal at 19th and Egypt at 36th. Ivory Coast is positioned just ahead of Nigeria in 38th place, securing the fourth spot in Africa.
The Super Eagles will need to improve their performance in upcoming fixtures to regain their standing both in Africa and globally. The team’s next set of matches will be crucial in determining whether they can climb back up the FIFA rankings and re-establish themselves as a dominant force in African football.
