Nigeria’s Super Eagles concluded 2024 as the 44th-best football team in the world and the fifth in Africa, according to the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday, Afrosport reports.
The three-time African champions saw a significant drop in their rankings this year, losing eight spots globally and one position on the continent.
The decline follows a disappointing end to their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, where they recorded a draw against Benin Republic and a defeat to Rwanda in their final matches.
The Super Eagles began the year ranked 28th in the world, thanks to their impressive run to the AFCON final in Côte d’Ivoire.
However, their form dipped over the months, leaving them 16 places worse off by year’s end.
Despite Nigeria’s slip, the top 10 teams in Africa remained unchanged from the previous rankings.
Morocco, the highest-ranked African nation, sits at 14th globally, followed by Senegal (17th), Egypt (33rd), Algeria (37th), and Nigeria (44th).
Côte d’Ivoire (46th), Cameroon (49th), Mali (51st), Tunisia (52nd), and South Africa (57th) complete the African top 10.
Elsewhere in Africa, Madagascar dropped to 116th globally, while Gambia moved up to 125th. Lesotho also climbed one spot to 149th in the rankings.
At the global level, there were no changes among the top teams. World champions Argentina retained the top spot, followed by France (2nd), Spain (3rd), England (4th), and Brazil (5th).
Portugal (6th), the Netherlands (7th), Belgium (8th), Italy (9th), and Germany (10th) rounded out the top 10.
The Super Eagles will be looking to bounce back in 2025 as they prepare for the AFCON tournament, with fans hoping for a resurgence that reflects their early-year promise.