Nigeria slip in FIFA rankings as South Africa and Benin continue upward climb

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped one place to 45th in the latest FIFA World Ranking, intensifying concerns about their faltering bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.

The fall marks Nigeria’s lowest position in five years and sees them overtaken by reigning African champions Côte d’Ivoire, who now sit 44th.

The drop also reflects the Super Eagles' stuttering run in Group C of the African qualifiers, where they remain third.

South Africa, Nigeria’s biggest rivals in the World Cup qualifying group, have enjoyed a sharp rise.

Bafana Bafana moved up to 55th after defeating Lesotho 3-0 and holding the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw earlier this month. This is their highest ranking since 2021, when they were as low as 75th.

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Elsewhere in Group C, Benin Republic are also on the rise under coach Gernot Rohr. Consecutive wins over Lesotho (4-0) and Zimbabwe (1-0) have lifted them to 93rd. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, dropped to 125th, Rwanda stayed 127th, and Lesotho slid to 153rd.

Morocco remain Africa’s top-ranked side, climbing to 11th in the world, leapfrogging Germany, while Senegal follow at 18th. The Atlas Lions have already sealed World Cup qualification with two matches to spare.

Egypt, Algeria, and Côte d’Ivoire complete Africa’s top five, with Nigeria now slipping to sixth on the continent.

Globally, Spain are the new number one, ending Argentina’s reign at the summit. France sit second, with Argentina third, England fourth, and Portugal fifth. Brazil, once perennial leaders, are now sixth.

For Nigeria, the implications are serious. With 11 points from eight matches, they sit six points adrift of leaders South Africa. Only the top side from each African group qualifies automatically for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Super Eagles must win both of their final qualifiers, away to Lesotho and at home to Benin, next month to keep their slim hopes alive. Anything less could see them miss out on the World Cup for the second time in eight years, a prospect unthinkable for one of Africa’s traditional heavyweights.