Nigeria’s Super Eagles continue to struggle on the global stage, sliding one step further down in FIFA’s latest world rankings. The team now sits 45th worldwide and holds on to sixth place in Africa.
The dip marks their second in a row, after falling from 43rd to 44th last month, and comes amid a shaky World Cup qualifying campaign under Coach Eric Chelle. For many fans, the steady drop is a worrying sign that Nigeria’s once-feared football powerhouse is losing its edge in international football. The Eagles, who have three African Cup of Nations titles and a history of strong World Cup appearances, are yet to rediscover the consistency that once made them a force to reckon with.
Across Africa, several rivals are moving in the opposite direction, further widening the gap. Morocco remain the flag-bearers for the continent, climbing as high as 11th globally thanks to a strong winning run. The Atlas Lions, who made history by reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, have continued their fine form, winning eight of their last nine matches. Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire also feature in Africa’s top five, proving that the competition at continental level is getting even tougher for Nigeria.
Benin Republic, who face Nigeria in their next qualifier, rose to 93rd, underlining the progress of teams once seen as minnows. South Africa also climbed to 55th after frustrating the Eagles with a 1-1 draw in June, a result that highlighted Nigeria’s inability to kill off games despite boasting attacking talent. On the flip side, Lesotho slipped to 153rd and Zimbabwe suffered the biggest fall, tumbling to 125th, but those setbacks do little to overshadow Nigeria’s stagnation compared to their peers.
On the women’s front, the Super Falcons kept their 36th place, remaining Africa’s top-ranked female team despite stiff competition from rivals like South Africa and Morocco. Globally, Spain replaced the United States at the summit of the women’s ranking, continuing their rise after winning the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
For Nigeria, the latest rankings send a clear message: while the talent pool remains rich, the results are not matching expectations. With the World Cup qualifiers in full swing, Coach Eric Chelle and his team will need to turn the tide quickly if the Eagles are to avoid slipping further behind both on the continent and across the world stage.
