Nigeria Falls from Africa’s Top Five in Latest FIFA Rankings as Cote d’Ivoire Overtakes
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped to sixth in Africa, overtaken by Cote d’Ivoire, who now rank fifth. This shift is attributed to Nigeria’s inconsistent performance over recent months. Despite a slight improvement globally, the Super Eagles face increasing challenges to regain their stature among Africa’s elite teams in upcoming qualifiers.
In the latest FIFA rankings, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have fallen from Africa’s top five, now ranking sixth, as Cote d’Ivoire has ascended to the fifth position. This change, reported by Soccernet.ng, reflects Nigeria’s inconsistent performance in recent months, following their mixed results after losing to Cote d’Ivoire in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in February.
Currently, the Super Eagles have achieved victories in only four out of their last eleven matches across all competitions, alongside four draws and three losses. Their World Cup 2025 qualifying campaign began with a promising 2-0 away win against Rwanda but was marred by a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Zimbabwe in March.
Contrastingly, Cote d’Ivoire has demonstrated formidable form, securing eight wins out of their last eleven matches. Their recent victories, including a 1-0 win over both Burundi and Gambia, have kept them on track for the 2026 World Cup qualification, earning them 16 points and placing them at the top of their qualifying group ahead of Gabon.
As a result of their consistent performance, Cote d’Ivoire now joins the ranks of Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria within the top five teams in Africa. Despite dropping in continental standings, Nigeria has made a slight improvement on the global stage, climbing from 44th to 43rd in the overall FIFA rankings.
Globally, Argentina tops the FIFA rankings, followed by France, England, and Brazil, with Spain rounding out the top five. The top ten also includes the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, and Germany. The upcoming World Cup qualifiers present Nigeria with an opportunity to reclaim its elite position in African football. However, they must find consistency in their performance to avoid a further drop.
In summary, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have slipped from the top five teams in Africa, now ranked sixth after Cote d’Ivoire’s recent success. While Nigeria shows a slight improvement in the global rankings, their pathway to reclaiming prominence within African football hinges on achieving consistent results in future matches. The competition remains fierce, and continued reliance on strong performances will be critical for the Super Eagles moving forward.
Original Source: soccernet.ng
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