Nigeria’s Super Eagles have fallen one place to 45th in the latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking, a marginal dip that reflects an up-and-down run of results over the past international windows. 

The team’s ranking points edged down from 1484 to 1483, underscoring how small swings in recent match outcomes can shift global standing.

The slide follows a patchwork of scorelines: wins over Rwanda (1–0) and Congo (2–0) were offset by a draw with South Africa and defeats to Sudan (4–0) and Senegal (1–0). 

In FIFA’s points system, heavy losses and draws against similarly ranked sides can cancel out gains from routine victories, leaving only a slender net change, exactly what Nigeria experienced this month.

Position on the continent

Within Africa, Nigeria now sits sixth, trailing a top five led by Morocco, followed by Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire. That intra-continental picture matters: seeding for future qualifiers and regional tournaments often leans on these rankings, which in turn influence the difficulty of qualifying paths.

Global reshuffle at the top

There was movement above, too. Spain reclaimed the world’s No. 1 spot for the first time since 2014, dislodging Argentina after a crowded international calendar that saw more than 200 matches played across confederations. Big nations’ trading results at the summit amplified subtle shifts further down the table.

What the drop means—and what comes next

A one-place fall is hardly a crisis, but it is a reminder that Nigeria’s margin for error remains thin. To climb, the Super Eagles need consistent performances against similarly ranked opponents and results in marquee fixtures that carry heavier ranking weight.

Limiting defensive lapses in tight games, improving chance conversion, and managing game states away from home are immediate focus areas if the team is to convert potential into points—and points into ranking gains.