The Super Eagles of Nigeria have fallen eight places in the latest FIFA rankings, dropping from 36th to 44th globally.
The update, released on Thursday by the world football governing body, also places Nigeria as the fifth-best team in Africa, down from their previous fourth position.
The ranking reflects the Super Eagles’ underwhelming performance in their final matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Despite having already secured a spot in the tournament due to Rwanda’s victory over Libya, the Eagles struggled to a 1-1 draw against the Benin Republic, managed by their former coach, Gernot Rohr.
This was followed by a disappointing home defeat to Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Nigeria’s decline is among the steepest in this month’s rankings, alongside Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.
Morocco and Senegal retained their positions as Africa’s top-ranked teams, with Egypt and Algeria coming in third and fourth, respectively.
On the global stage, Argentina continues to lead, followed by France in second and Spain in third. England and Brazil round out the top five.
The next FIFA rankings update is scheduled for December 19, 2024.
