Nigeria's Super Eagles drop in FIFA World Rankings

• Following two below-par performances in June, Nigeria have suffered a drop in the latest FIFA world rankings.

According to FIFA's website, the Super Eagles fell from 30th to 38th in the world and are now fifth in Africa.

The continent's number-one ranked team Morocco are followed closely by Senegal as the only African side in the world's top 20. The Atlas Lions and the Teranga Lions are joined by Egypt, AFCON winners Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria in Africa's best five football nations.

Nigeria's decline follows poor results in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers earlier this month. The Super Eagles wobbled to a disappointing 1-1 draw with South Africa in Uyo on June 7 before the AFCON vice-champions stumbled to a shock 2-1 loss against the Benin Republic in Abidjan.

Following their impressive draw with Nigeria and victory over Zimbabwe, South Africa climbed into Africa's top ten list but the Bafana Bafana remain 59th in the global rankings.

Gernot Rohr-tutored Benin, with wins against Nigeria and Rwanda, has moved up to 91st.

Nigeria's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup currently remain in shambles as the Super Eagles sit fifth in Group C with three points from four games. Lesotho, Rwanda, Benin, and South Africa are all better placed than Nigeria in the race to participate at the Mundial to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The Super Eagles will look to get their adventure back on track when they face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March 2025.

At the top of the global rankings, Argentina remains first, followed by France and Belgium. Brazil is now fourth, with England fifth. Portugal, the Netherlands, and Spain are also in the top ten, with Croatia moving up to ninth, pushing Italy to tenth.