Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped out of Africa’s top five teams in the latest FIFA rankings, with AFCON champions Cote d’Ivoire overtaking them for the fifth spot on the continent.
The new rankings, released on Thursday, highlight Nigeria’s struggles with consistency following their AFCON final loss to Cote d’Ivoire in February. Currently ranked sixth in Africa, the three-time African champions have won just four of their last 11 matches across all competitions, drawing four and losing three.
Mixed Results for Nigeria
Nigeria started 2025 on a strong note with a 2-0 victory over Rwanda in the World Cup qualifiers. However, their momentum took a hit after a disappointing 1-1 draw at home against Zimbabwe in March.
Meanwhile, Cote d’Ivoire’s impressive form—winning eight of their last 11 games—has strengthened their position. Recent 1-0 wins over Burundi and Gambia have kept them at the top of their World Cup qualifying group with 16 points, securing their place among Africa’s top teams alongside Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria.
Super Eagles Make Slight Global Climb
Despite slipping in Africa, the Super Eagles moved up one spot globally, climbing from 44th to 43rd in the latest FIFA rankings. However, this small progress has not been enough to keep them among the continent’s elite.
On the global stage, Argentina remains the world’s top-ranked team, followed by France, England, Brazil, and Spain. Other teams in the top 10 include the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, and Germany.
Africa’s Current FIFA Rankings:
1. Morocco
2. Senegal
3. Egypt
4. Algeria
5. Cote d’Ivoire
6. Nigeria
7. Tunisia
8. Cameroon
9. Mali
10. South Africa
Can Nigeria bounce back and reclaim their spot among Africa’s top teams? Fans will be hoping for a stronger performance in the upcoming fixtures.
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