Chijioke Gabriel
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped one spot in the latest FIFA World Rankings released on Thursday, moving from 43rd to 44th position globally.
Despite the slight fall, the Super Eagles maintain their position as the fifth-highest-ranked African team. They remain behind Morocco, who lead the continent at 12th globally, followed by Senegal in 18th, Egypt in 34th, and Algeria in 36th place. Nigeria continues to rank ahead of long-time rivals such as South Africa, who are 56th, and Ghana, currently at 76th.
The rankings reflect a period of mixed results for the Super Eagles, even as they lifted the Unity Cup in London under newly appointed head coach Eric Chelle. Chelle remains unbeaten since assuming his role, and optimism continues to build around the team’s prospects heading into future qualifiers and tournaments.
Ivory Coast, who had temporarily surpassed Nigeria following their Africa Cup of Nations triumph, fell four places in the latest rankings, now sitting just behind the Super Eagles in the continental hierarchy.
Globally, Senegal’s consistent performance has helped secure their place among the top 20 teams, underlining their dominance in African football. The top five countries in the world rankings remain unchanged. Mexico’s recent Gold Cup victory has propelled them to 13th, overtaking the United States, who have dropped to 15th.
Notable global shifts include Norway moving up five places to 33rd, Paraguay climbing to 43rd, North Macedonia to 62nd, Zambia to 83rd, and Costa Rica making the most dramatic leap—up 14 spots to 40th. In Asia, countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Laos also recorded strong upward movements, while Bermuda and Grenada improved significantly in their rankings.
While the slip to 44th represents a marginal setback, Nigeria’s continued dominance over several African rivals reinforces their reputation as a continental football powerhouse. With new leadership and high expectations, the Super Eagles are aiming to strengthen their position in upcoming international competitions.