Nigeria’s Super Eagles have climbed one spot in the latest FIFA rankings but have slipped out of Africa’s top five, with AFCON champions Cote d’Ivoire overtaking them.
The rankings, released on Thursday, reflect Nigeria’s inconsistent form in recent months. Despite reaching the AFCON final in February, the Super Eagles now rank sixth in Africa, behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and Cote d’Ivoire.
Nigeria’s Struggles and Cote d’Ivoire’s Rise
Since their AFCON final defeat to Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria has struggled for consistency, winning just four of their last 11 matches. A promising start to their 2025 campaign saw them beat Rwanda 2-0 in the World Cup qualifiers, but they stumbled with a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Zimbabwe.
In contrast, Cote d’Ivoire has been in dominant form, winning eight of their last 11 matches, including crucial 1-0 victories over Burundi and Gambia in the World Cup qualifiers. This strong performance has propelled them into Africa’s top five, pushing Nigeria out.
Global Standing: A Small Step Forward
On the international stage, Nigeria moved up one spot from 44th to 43rd in the FIFA world rankings. However, this minor progress has not been enough to maintain their standing among Africa’s elite.
Meanwhile, Argentina remains the world’s top-ranked team, followed by France, England, Brazil, and Spain.
Africa’s Top 10 FIFA Rankings
- Morocco
- Senegal
- Egypt
- Algeria
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Nigeria
- Tunisia
- Cameroon
- Mali
- South Africa
With the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in full swing, Nigeria must regain their form to reclaim their spot among Africa’s football powerhouses.
