Super Eagles Crash to Worst FIFA Ranking Of 2026
The Super Eagles have crashed to their worst FIFA ranking of 2026, dropping four places to 30th in the world in the latest ranking released by FIFA on Wednesday.
Nigeria, who had been ranked 26th since the beginning of the year, also slipped to sixth in Africa following a mixed October international window.
The drop means the Super Eagles have surrendered the significant gains made after their impressive run at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, when they climbed 12 places to 26th in January 2026. FIFA confirmed Nigeria’s 12-place rise after their bronze-medal finish at the tournament.
Their latest position of 30th is therefore their lowest global ranking this year.
Nigeria opened the latest international window with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in their 2027 AFCON qualifying opener but suffered a damaging 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in Bissau.
The Super Eagles then ended the window with a 3-3 comeback draw against Russia in Tuesday’s international friendly in Nizhny Novgorod.
Despite avoiding defeat against Russia, the result could not prevent Nigeria from falling four places in the FIFA ranking.
The Eagles’ decline has also taken them out of Africa’s top five for the first time in the current ranking cycle. Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire now occupy the top five positions on the continent, with Nigeria sixth.
Nigeria’s 30th position is still eight places better than their 38th ranking in December 2025, but the latest figures mark a sharp reversal of the progress made at the start of the year.
The Super Eagles will have an opportunity to improve their ranking when they return to action in November for their 2027 AFCON qualifying double-header against Tanzania.
