Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped from fifth to sixth in the latest FIFA rankings for Africa, while reigning AFCON champions Cote d’Ivoire surged ahead to claim the fifth spot.
The updated rankings, released on Thursday, highlight Nigeria’s struggles in recent months. The three-time African champions have failed to maintain stability since their AFCON final loss to Cote d’Ivoire in February. With just four wins in their last 11 matches across all competitions, coupled with four draws and three defeats, the Super Eagles find themselves slipping further down the continental pecking order.
Nigeria’s 2025 campaign had a promising start with a dominant 2-0 away victory against Rwanda in the World Cup qualifiers. However, they faltered in their next game, settling for a frustrating 1-1 home draw against Zimbabwe in March. This inconsistency has raised concerns about their ability to compete at the highest level.
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On the other hand, Cote d’Ivoire has been in exceptional form, securing eight wins in their last 11 matches. The Elephants recently notched crucial 1-0 victories over Burundi and Gambia, accumulating 16 points to solidify their position at the top of their World Cup qualifying group ahead of Gabon. Their impressive run has propelled them into Africa’s top five, joining Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria as the continent’s elite teams.
Despite their decline in Africa, Nigeria experienced a minor global ranking boost, moving up from 44th to 43rd in the overall FIFA rankings. However, this small gain was not enough to prevent their slip in the African hierarchy.
Meanwhile, Argentina remains the world’s number one team, followed closely by France, England, Brazil, and Spain. The Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, and Germany round out the global top 10 rankings.
As Nigeria prepares for their next set of World Cup qualifiers, the Super Eagles have a chance to reclaim their place among Africa’s best. However, with competition intensifying, they must find consistency and rediscover their winning form to avoid further decline in the rankings.
