Nigeria's Super Eagles have slipped to 45th in the latest FIFA men's world rankings, marking their lowest position in over six years and a concerning drop out of Africa's top five nations, despite an unbeaten streak in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers under new coach Eric Chelle.
The rankings, released by FIFA on Thursday, saw the three-time African champions tumble one spot from 44th, with their points tally dipping slightly from 1484 to 1483.
On the continent, Nigeria now languishes in sixth place, overtaken by Côte d'Ivoire and trailing leaders Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria.
The decline comes as a shock following a mixed but unbeaten run in recent qualifiers. The Super Eagles secured a 1-0 victory over Rwanda on September 6 and a gritty 1-1 draw away to South Africa on September 9, bolstering their campaign in CAF Group C.
However, earlier setbacks—including a 4-0 loss to Sudan and a 1-0 defeat to Senegal—appear to have weighed heavily on the overall calculation, which factors in results from over 200 international matches worldwide since the last update in July.
"This is our lowest ranking in six years, and it's frustrating because we've been unbeaten in the qualifiers lately," said a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), echoing sentiments from fans and analysts.
The drop intensifies pressure on Chelle, who took over earlier this year, as Nigeria sits with 11 points from eight group matches—six points behind leaders South Africa, who climbed in the rankings.
Only the group winner qualifies automatically for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Globally, Spain surged to the top spot, dethroning Argentina for the first time since 2014, while Slovakia made the biggest leap, rising 10 places to 42nd.
In Africa, the reshuffle showcases rising competition, with Côte d'Ivoire's recent Africa Cup of Nations triumph propelling them into the top five.
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