The Super Eagles of Nigeria maintained their 39th position in the most recent FIFA rankings announced on Thursday by the international football governing body. Despite their steady ranking globally, they experienced a slight setback in the African standings, dropping one place to sixth. This places them behind some of Africa’s most formidable teams, including Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, and Tunisia, highlighting the competitive nature of African football.
In the African Top 10, Nigeria is positioned ahead of other strong contenders such as Algeria, Cameroon, Mali, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This reflects Nigeria’s ongoing reputation as a powerhouse in African football, although their recent performances have shown some inconsistency.
During the review period, the Super Eagles showcased their potential with a decisive 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in an AFCON 2025 qualifier held in Uyo. However, they faced a disappointing goalless draw against Rwanda in Kigali, indicating areas that need improvement. This mixed performance resulted in a slight decrease in their overall points, dropping by 0.91, which adjusted their total from 1498.93 to 1498.02.
In the context of their World Cup qualifying group, South Africa is positioned just outside the Top 10 at 11th place. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s regional rivals, the Black Stars of Ghana, are struggling significantly, sitting at 14th. Ghana’s recent AFCON qualifying campaign has not gone well, marked by a defeat to Angola and a draw with Niger Republic, which reflects their current challenges.
On the global stage, the Top 10 rankings remained stable, with Argentina holding the top spot, followed closely by France, Spain, England, Brazil, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Colombia, and Italy. This consistency among the top teams underscores the dominance of these nations in international football.
Looking ahead, the Super Eagles have a busy schedule as they prepare to face Libya in two back-to-back matches for the AFCON 2025 qualifiers next month. These upcoming matches are crucial for Nigeria to solidify their standing and secure a place in the tournament. The next FIFA rankings are expected to be published on October 24, 2024, providing an opportunity for the Super Eagles to improve their position based on their performances in the qualifiers.
