For the first time in six months, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped out of Africa’s top five teams in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings, despite a slight improvement globally.
While Nigeria moved up from 44th to 43rd in the world rankings, they were overtaken by Côte d’Ivoire, who surged five spots to 41st and claimed fifth place in Africa.
🦅 Nigeria Falls to 6th in Africa
The latest rankings mark a setback for Nigerian football, as the Super Eagles now sit sixth among African nations, their lowest continental placement since September 2024.
🔝 Africa’s Current Top 7 (FIFA Rankings – April 2025):
- Morocco – 12th globally
- Senegal – 19th
- Egypt – 32nd
- Algeria – 36th
- Côte d’Ivoire – 41st
- Nigeria – 43rd
- Tunisia – 49th
Morocco retained their top spot in Africa, followed by Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria. Côte d’Ivoire’s AFCON success and strong recent form saw them leapfrog Nigeria, while Tunisia also climbed three places globally.
📉 What Caused Nigeria’s Drop in the Rankings?
At the start of 2024, Nigeria was ranked 28th, riding high after finishing runners-up at AFCON 2023. However, a mixed bag of results in the months that followed led to a gradual decline:
- 2024 Record: 15 matches – 9 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses
- Biggest setback: Inconsistent performances in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
- Current World Cup Qualifying Standing: 4th in their group
Despite booking a spot at AFCON 2025, Nigeria’s poor qualifying results and shaky team performances have hurt their international standing.
🌍 Global Rankings Overview:
Across 245 international matches played since the last update, the top 10 in the world saw some reshuffling:
🏆 Top 10 FIFA World Rankings (April 2025):
- Argentina
- Spain
- France
- England
- Brazil
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Belgium
- Italy
- Germany
- Spain overtook France for second place.
- Netherlands jumped past Portugal into sixth.
- Croatia (11th) and Morocco (12th) are knocking on the top-10 door.
📅 When’s the Next FIFA Ranking Update?
The next FIFA World Rankings will be published on July 10, 2025, after another window of international fixtures, including World Cup qualifiers and friendlies.
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⚽ Final Thoughts
Nigeria’s drop in the African standings serves as a wake-up call ahead of crucial qualifiers and AFCON 2025 preparations. With talent like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze, the Super Eagles have the tools to bounce back—but it will take consistency, discipline, and a renewed sense of urgency.
