Nigeria has fallen to the 38th position In the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday. The Super Eagles now have 1498.93 points, a decrease from their previous 1520.27 points.
This drop marks a significant shift in the global football landscape, as Nigeria continues to face challenges on the international stage.
Formerly ranked 30th, Nigeria’s decline follows its performance in the two matches after the African Cup of Nations, where they emerged as runners-up after losing 2-1 to the host nation.
In their recent games, the Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic in a match played in Ivory Coast.
Nigeria’s hopes for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers remain doubtful, as the nation failed to secure victories in these crucial matches.
Meanwhile, Argentina maintained its top position in the rankings, solidifying its status as the leading football nation in the world.
The South American giants gained 2.14 points, bringing their total to 1860.14, reflecting their consistent high-level performance in recent tournaments.
The FIFA rankings are calculated using the Elo model, which considers team strength, match importance, and results.
Liberia remain the biggest climber in the rankings, moving up 10 positions to a new highest rank of 142nd.
Liberia also scored the most points, gaining 37.47 points.
Equatorial Guinea experienced the biggest drop, falling 10 positions and losing 47.53 points, marking a significant downturn in their ranking.
FIFA rankings 2nd to 5th
However, the second and third spots on the latest ranking remain unchanged as France and Belgium hold on to their respective positions.
France continues to dominate the football world, securing the second position for another consecutive month with a rating of 1840.59 points.
Despite a minor decrease of 3.12 points from the previous ranking, the French team remains a formidable force in international football.
Following closely behind is Belgium, holding steady in 3rd place with a rating of 1795.23 points, marking a slight increase of 2.75 points. Belgium’s consistent performance in recent matches has contributed to maintaining its position in the top tier of global football.
Meanwhile, Brazil has moved up to the 4th position, overtaking England.
