Super Eagles of Nigeria
Super Eagles of Nigeria, a powerhouse in African football with a storied history of three Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles and six World Cup appearances, have slipped one spot to 45th in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings, released on September 18, 2025.
This marks their lowest ranking in over six years, reflecting a challenging phase for the team despite their silver medal at the 2024 AFCON.
According to FIFA’s official ranking table, the Super Eagles earned 1483 points in the September review, down from 1484 points in July.
The team’s recent performance included a mixed bag of results: a 1-1 draw against South Africa in a World Cup qualifier, victories over Rwanda (1-0) and Congo (2-0), and losses to Sudan (4-0) and Senegal (1-0).
These outcomes contributed to the slight dip in their global standing.
On the African continent, Nigeria now ranks sixth, trailing behind Morocco (11th globally), Senegal (18th), Egypt, Algeria, and Côte d’Ivoire, with the latter overtaking Nigeria to claim 44th place worldwide. Morocco’s strong performance, bolstered by their 2022 World Cup semi-final run, keeps them as Africa’s top team.
Globally, Spain has reclaimed the top spot, dethroning Argentina, who held the position since April 2023, marking Spain’s first time at the summit since 2014.
Slovakia emerged as the biggest climber, soaring 10 places to 42nd, just ahead of Nigeria. Over 200 national-team matches worldwide since the last FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking update significantly reshaped the global pecking order.
The Super Eagles’ decline underscores the fierce competition in African football and the need for consistency in high-stakes matches, particularly in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. With upcoming fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic in October, the team, led by coach Eric Chelle, has a chance to regain momentum and improve their standing before the next ranking update on October 23.
