Boluwatife Kehinde
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped out of Africa’s top five in the latest FIFA World Ranking, slipping one place to 45th in the world. Despite the setback, the three-time African champions remain above South Africa, who sit 55th on the global ladder.
The decline follows Nigeria’s underwhelming showing during the recent international window, which dented their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes.
The Super Eagles edged Rwanda narrowly in Uyo but faltered against South Africa, settling for a draw that cost them vital points in both their World Cup campaign and continental standing.
This slip has allowed AFCON holders Côte d’Ivoire to leapfrog Nigeria into Africa’s top five. Just one ranking cycle earlier, Nigeria had risen from 43rd to 44th globally—enough to stay among the continent’s elite. However, their latest results proved costly, with head coach Finidi George and his squad now under pressure to respond in upcoming fixtures.
In 2025, the Super Eagles have had a mixed run, winning four, drawing four, and losing two of their ten matches. They have scored 12 goals and conceded 11, leaving them with a narrow +1 goal difference. At home, they’ve been solid with two wins and a draw in three games, but their away form has been less convincing, with just two wins from seven matches.
Defensively, they’ve kept three clean sheets, yet lapses remain, while in attack they’ve failed to score twice. Overall, the team has been competitive but inconsistent, showing the need for greater sharpness and stability.
While Nigeria’s drop underscores recent struggles, their continued edge over South Africa signals resilience. The Super Eagles will be eager to climb back into the top tier of African football, with future tournaments providing the platform to restore momentum and confidence.
On the global stage, Spain have surged to the summit of the rankings, displacing reigning world champions Argentina. The European champions now lead the table ahead of France in second place, while Argentina fall to third after losing two spots. England remain steady in fourth, while Portugal complete the top five after overtaking Brazil.
