FIFA ranking: Super Eagles record biggest drop after loss to Rwanda, win over Gernot Rohr’s Benin

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have suffered a significant drop in the FIFA rankings following mixed results in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Soccernet.ng reports.

Despite a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Gernot Rohr’s Benin Republic, a shocking 2-1 loss to Rwanda proved costly, resulting in a substantial decline in Nigeria’s global football standing.

Previously ranked 36th in the world before the matches, Nigeria fell eighth to 44th, which has made their steepest decline in recent years.

The defeat to Rwanda, a team that previously ranked 126 and now ranks 124 following their victory over Nigeria, exposed the Super Eagles’ readiness for the upcoming AFCON tournament.

In contrast, the narrow win against Benin, under the guidance of former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, did little to salvage Nigeria’s ranking.

Although the 2013 AFCON champions had already secured their ticket to the tournament in Morocco next year with their victory over Benin, this achievement appeared to affect their approach to the game against Rwanda.

Many attributed the defeat to a tactical strategy that prioritised player rotation and experimentation over securing all available points.

The Super Eagles must regroup quickly as they prepare for tougher challenges ahead, knowing that every performance will be closely scrutinised.

This ranking drop serves as a wake-up call for the three-time African champions, who will now look to reclaim their position among the continent’s elite.