- Nigeria suffers its biggest ranking fall in years after Rwanda defeat.
- Morocco retains Africa’s top spot as Argentina leads the global rankings.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have experienced a significant drop in the latest FIFA rankings, falling eight places from 36th to 44th globally. This marks their steepest decline in recent years, attributed to their poor performances in recent international outings.
Nigeria’s drop follows a surprising 2-1 home defeat to Rwanda in the final phase of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The loss at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo ended the Eagles’ unbeaten run in the series. Prior to this, the team managed a 1-1 draw with the Benin Republic in Ivory Coast, a result that had already secured their qualification for the tournament in Morocco.
In the updated FIFA rankings released on November 28, Nigeria now ranks fifth in Africa, slipping from fourth, with Algeria taking their place, while Morocco remains Africa’s top team despite dropping one spot globally to 14th, followed by Senegal (17th) and Egypt (33rd).
Also, Argentina retained the number one global spot, followed by France, Spain, England, and Brazil in the top five.
The Eagles’ decline contrasts sharply with Niger, the biggest climber in this ranking period, jumping nine spots to 122nd globally, and Comoros, reaching their highest-ever rank at 103rd.
This marks the Super Eagles’ most significant drop since February 2024, when they fell 14 places. Despite their strong history, including three African championship titles, the recent slide underscores the need for improved performances ahead of AFCON 2025.
As fans and analysts voice concerns, the focus now shifts to how the Eagles can rebuild momentum and regain their status among the continent’s elite.
