Nigeria suffers significant drop in latest FIFA rankings

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have experienced a dramatic fall in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings, dropping eight places from 36th to 44th. This decline marks the largest drop among all ranked nations in the November release.

The setback is largely attributed to Nigeria’s underwhelming results in their final Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers for 2025.

The team managed only a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in Côte d’Ivoire and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in Uyo.

As a result of this downturn, Nigeria also lost their position as Africa’s fourth-ranked team, now sitting fifth. Morocco continues to lead the continent, followed by Senegal, Algeria, and Egypt.

Globally, Argentina remains the top-ranked team, with France, Spain, England, and Brazil rounding out the top five.

These rankings come amidst a packed international calendar, with ongoing World Cup qualifiers, AFCON 2025 matches, and Nations League fixtures contributing to the movement across the rankings.