Super Eagles Drop to 44th in Latest FIFA Rankings
By Augustine Orapine
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped one spot in the latest FIFA World Rankings released on Thursday, slipping from 43rd to 44th in the world.
Despite the slight fall, Nigeria remains one of Africa’s footballing powerhouses, retaining its status as the fifth-best team on the continent. The Super Eagles now trail behind Morocco (12th), Senegal (18th), Egypt (34th), and Algeria (36th), but continue to stay ahead of traditional rivals South Africa (56th) and Ghana (76th).
The drop comes after a period of mixed results, despite a recent morale-boosting Unity Cup victory in London under the guidance of new head coach Eric Chelle. The former Mali international remains unbeaten since taking charge of the Nigerian team.
“I am proud of the response and spirit shown by the players,” Chelle said after the London triumph. “There is a lot of work ahead, but the foundation we are building is strong.”
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast—who temporarily overtook Nigeria following their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations triumph—have now fallen four places and sit just behind the Super Eagles in the African rankings.
Global Shifts and African Highlights
Senegal’s continued strong form has propelled them into the world’s top 20, solidifying their position as Africa’s highest-ranked side.
Globally, the top five teams remain unchanged, while Mexico climbed to 13th after securing the Gold Cup title, pushing the United States down to 15th place.
Other notable movements in the latest rankings include:
Norway, up five places to 33rd
Paraguay, rising to 43rd
North Macedonia, up to 62nd
Zambia, moving to 83rd
Costa Rica, the biggest climber, jumping 14 spots to 40th
Asian teams such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Laos also made measurable progress. Meanwhile, Caribbean nations like Bermuda and Grenada recorded notable improvements.
Nigeria Remains a Force
While the dip to 44th place may be seen as a minor setback, analysts insist Nigeria’s position among Africa’s top five remains a strong indicator of its continental pedigree.
“Nigeria is still a dominant force in African football,” said a football analyst with the Nigerian Football Federation. “With a new technical direction and young talent emerging, the future looks promising.”
As preparations continue for upcoming international fixtures and qualifiers, expectations remain high among fans and stakeholders for a return to winning ways and a climb back up the global rankings.
