Nigeria has recorded the most substantial decline in the latest FIFA rankings published on Thursday, following a series of disappointing performances.
The three-time African champions have dropped from 36th to 44th place in the global standings, marking an eight-position fall.
The team’s current points total stands at 1482.23, a decrease from their previous score of 1503.
Within the African context, Nigeria is now positioned fifth, trailing behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria.
This decline is attributed to unsatisfactory results during the recent FIFA international window, where Nigeria suffered a 2-1 defeat to Rwanda and could only secure a 1-1 draw against Benin in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.
On the global stage, Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, retains the top position, followed by France in second place and Spain in third. England and Brazil hold the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.
These rankings reflect a busy international football calendar, which includes qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, matches for AFCON 2025, and fixtures in the Nations League.
In contrast, Niger has achieved the most significant advancement in the rankings, climbing nine places to 122nd globally with an increase of 31.23 points.
The next update of the FIFA rankings is set for December 12, 2024.