The Super Eagles have dropped to 45th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, slipping one place from their previous position and falling out of Africa’s top five teams. The September rankings reflect Nigeria’s inconsistent run of results, which now sees Côte d’Ivoire leapfrog Nigeria to take fifth spot on the continent.
How the Drop Happened
The September rankings show Nigeria with 1,483 points, slightly down from 1,484 in the last update. This is part of a steady decline over recent months. Back in April, the Super Eagles were ranked 43rd, but by July, they had slipped to 44th, and now, in September, they find themselves in 45th place.
This latest fall comes after a string of mixed results during the most recent international window. Nigeria managed to secure wins over Rwanda and Congo, with 1-0 and 2-0 victories respectively. They also played out a tense 1-1 draw with South Africa. However, heavy defeats; a 4-0 thrashing by Sudan and a 1-0 loss to Senegal weighed heavily against their ranking points, ultimately pushing them down the standings.
Where Nigeria Stands in Africa
On the continental stage, Nigeria has now dropped to sixth place among African nations. The teams ahead of the Super Eagles are Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and Côte d’Ivoire – with Côte d’Ivoire overtaking Nigeria this month to claim fifth spot.
Elsewhere in Africa, Tunisia made notable progress, moving up three places to 49th globally. South Africa also climbed to 55th following four points gained from recent matches against Lesotho and Nigeria. Nigeria’s next World Cup qualifying opponent, Lesotho, sits far down the rankings at 153rd, while Benin Republic has improved to 93rd.
Global Picture
On the world stage, Spain has reclaimed the top spot in the FIFA rankings after their UEFA Euro 2024 triumph, a move that sees them displace Argentina, who fell to third. France climbed into second place, continuing their strong form, while England held firm in fourth. Portugal surged into the top five for the first time in months, overtaking Brazil, who slipped down the rankings.
One of the biggest surprises came from Germany, who dropped three places to 12th after a shocking loss to Slovakia. That stunning upset propelled Slovakia upward by an incredible ten spots, lifting them to 42nd globally
Time to Bounce Back
If Nigeria is to reclaim its status as a continental powerhouse, the team must find its rhythm quickly. The rankings are clear: the world is moving forward, and the Super Eagles must catch up fast.
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