FIFA Rankings: Nigeria drop significantly after disappointing 2025 AFCON qualifiers

By: Monsurah Olatunji

In the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday, Nigeria’s senior men’s national team suffered a significant fall, a shift that has shaken the nation’s football scene.

After previously ranking 39th in the world and climbing to 36th in the prior update, the Super Eagles have dropped eight places to 44th globally.

This downturn follows a series of underwhelming performances during the final rounds of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers, where Nigeria’s lackluster results against Benin Republic and Rwanda played a pivotal role in the drop.

While the Super Eagles’ ranking declined, other African teams have experienced shifts. Ghana dropped four spots to 77th, while South Africa’s Bafana Bafana gained ground, climbing three positions to 57th.

On a brighter note for Africa, Niger Republic emerged as the biggest mover in this cycle, surging nine spots to 122nd.

Despite these fluctuations, Nigeria remains among the top five teams in Africa, though there has been one notable change: Algeria has overtaken the Super Eagles, now sitting in 4th place.

Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt continue to lead the continent’s footballing charge, with Nigeria now ranked 5th in Africa.

Top 10 African Teams:

1. Morocco – 14th
2. Senegal – 17th
3. Egypt – 33rd
4. Algeria – 37th
5. Nigeria – 44th
6. Côte d’Ivoire – 46th
7. Cameroon – 49th
8. Mali – 51st
9. Tunisia – 52nd
10. South Africa – 57th

Notable Movements:

• Biggest rise by points: Niger (+31.23 points)
• Biggest rise by ranks: Niger (+9 positions)
• Biggest drop by points: Congo DR (-35.53 points)
• Biggest drop by ranks: Congo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone (down 8 positions)

As Nigeria reflects on its fall in the FIFA rankings, the next update, set for December 19th, will provide an opportunity for the Super Eagles to reclaim some ground.

With the 2025 AFCON just around the corner, there is much for the team to play for.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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