Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped eight places to 38th in the latest FIFA world rankings, released on Thursday, June 20, 2024, following a disappointing performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
According to the new rankings on FIFA website, Nigeria has fallen from 30th to 38th globally and now ranks 5th in Africa. The top African teams are Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Ivory Coast.
Super Eagles’ decline follows their performance in recent matches after the 2023 AFCON, where they finished as runners-up after losing 2-1 to the host nation.
In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria drew 1-1 with South Africa and lost 2-1 to the Benin Republic for the first time, putting their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in jeopardy.
Morocco has moved up one place to become the top African team, ranking 12th globally. They are followed by Senegal (18th), Egypt (36th), and Ivory Coast(37th) in the continental rankings.
Nigeria’s disappointing results in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers have significantly impacted their ranking. Despite these challenges, South Africa remains 59th in the rankings, while Benin’s impressive performance, including victories over Nigeria and Rwanda, has seen them move up to 91st.
With four games played in the qualifiers, Nigeria sits in fifth place in Group C with three points. Their upcoming matches are against Rwanda (ranked 131st) and Zimbabwe (ranked 129th) in March 2025.
On the Global rankings, Argentina, France, Belgium, Brazil, and England occupy the top five positions.
