Nigeria’s Super Eagles dropped eight places from 36th to 44th in the latest FIFA men’s world ranking, Completesports.com reports.
The ranking which was published on FIFA’s website on Thursday, saw the Eagles dropped from fourth place in Africa to fifth.
Morocco is number one in Africa and 14th in the world, Senegal are second on the continent and 17th globally.
Also Read: Tella Targets Super Eagles Return
At number three on the continent is Egypt who occupy 33rd in the world, and Algeria are ranked fourth in Africa and 37th in the world.
The Eagles’ drop in the ranking may not be unconnected to their unimpressive outing on matchday 5 and 6 of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
After holding Benin Republic to a 1-1 draw in Abidjan, the Eagles lost 2-1 to Rwanda in Uyo.
World Cup champions Argentina remain at number one France are second and European champions Spain are in third spot.
England are fourth Brazil fifth, while Portugal and the Netherlands are in sixth and seventh places respectively.
Belgium slip two places to number eight and it’s a case of as you were for Italy who are in ninth and Germany in 10th.
The next edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking will be published on 19 December 2024.
By James Agberebi
Got what it Takes?
Predict and Win Millions Now
COMMENTS
The outcome of drawing with a team ranked No. 95 (Benin) and losing to another team ranked No. 126 (Rwanda) is that you don’t deserve your previous No. 36 ranking.
I pray that this downturn will be halted with a massive overhaul of the coaching personnel.
Who will help beg Gusau and his board of slackers and “money savers” for us to make haste while the sun is shining?
The most painful thing is they don’t use the money they say they save judiciously. They save money for them to have enough to steal. Despite the #12b provided to the federation by Tinubu Government, Gusau and his team are still owing the players backlog of allowance. Ask them what they use the money for, they are not able to account for the money.
E don start. We have fans and ex-players singing that iRwanda’s loss is inconsequential etc. Well….
Dead rubber, dead rubber. We will soon enter pot 2 for AFCON 2025 draws. Top 6 positions (6 groups of 4 teams each)will soon elude us. Morocco and Senegal have been so consistent.
Peserio left us 30th in the world in April. Morocco is currently 14th in the world and we have slipped 14 places below our previous mark. What a name for progress.
Dead rubber fixture my foot. No wonder RSA coach is boasting he’d resign if Nigeria beats him to world cup ticket. What a way for AFCON vice champions to plummet and NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO ARREST THE SITUATION.
“Eguavoen lost only one” has been very positive. Very soon we will be dragging seeding with Burundi and Lesotho in future draws.
Let’s see if the malaise will hit falcons too because we are allergic to progressivism. Ah, that will mean no hope again in our football because we are nothing to write home about in cadet football for quite a while. Falcons who stunned the world only a year ago, hmmm.
Wait oh. 9 months and 3 FIFA rankings later after missing AFCON trophy by margins, local coaches that lots of people are rooting for permanent stay in Eagles have slid us from 30th to 44th. Just 9 months. Imagine what another year would look like. Meanwhile other nations are NOT SLEEPING. Anyway, Lesotho and other nations dragging 4th pot in draws no be nations too. We might as well join them
So it is the coaches fault. What happened to you unserious players that played rubbish. Aren’t they aware of the implications of not winning. Oga abeg leave the coach out of this, and talk to some of your unpatriotic over hyped players
Another coach was 45mins away from winning our 4th AFCON trophy with those same “…unpatriotic overhyped players…” just 9 months ago…….LMAOooo
And why didn’t he win it? A coach who fully knew Aina was injured and allowed him to be toasted by adringa. Same coach that could only muster 2 draws against minnow teams with some of this players.
Ani Ode nie se. Why didnt he win it…? He didnt win it because you were not born with common sense ni.
So it is the coach’s fault now ehn….LMAOoo..? It is no longer the player’s fault….LMAOOo
The same coach that initially couldn’t must wins against minnows used the same “…unpatriotic overhyped players…” to later reach AFCON final. Does that not tell you something….? Oh I forgot, you are too daft. Your brain does not tell you the coach did something that made the team produce better results.
The same team is getting worse by the day under your Eguavoen and all of a sudden, but it is back being the players fault…LMAOooo
The swiftness with which you contradict yourself should be competing with how quickly NEPA turns of power in Nigeria once its about to rain.
@ Kenneth
I hear you. The coach is the best, the rest are less. The coach is unpatriotic and the players are underhyped, these are the implications.
@Kenneth, I see this argument pop up often in your posts—that we should blame the players, not the coach, for a team’s underperformance. But let’s be honest: this perspective doesn’t hold up when you analyze the dynamics of football deeply and logically. A team is, fundamentally, a reflection of its coach. No matter how skilled or unskilled the players are, the coach’s role as a leader, tactician, and motivator is what molds the team into a coherent unit capable of delivering results.
First, let’s address the crux of the matter: a coach is the team’s architect. The players are his materials, and his job is to bring out the best in them. If a coach cannot inspire, organize, and direct his players effectively, then his competency comes into question. It’s as simple as this: the same group of players can be transformed by a competent coach. History has shown this repeatedly. Look at the 2012 Chelsea squad that won the Champions League under Roberto Di Matteo—practically the same players who were floundering under André Villas-Boas. The players didn’t change overnight; the leadership did.
This brings us to why coaches face the music when results don’t come. A club or country can’t sack an entire squad, but they can hold the coach accountable because he holds the power to shape the team. He determines tactics, lineup, substitutions, and game management. He identifies strengths and mitigates weaknesses. If the players aren’t delivering, it’s his responsibility to drop them and call up those who will. A good coach knows how to maximize the potential of his squad, regardless of their perceived limitations. When you consistently shift the blame to players, you’re essentially absolving the one person tasked with making them perform—the coach.
Now let’s apply this logic to Nigerian football, particularly the Super Eagles. For years, we’ve seen local coaches struggle to elevate the team. The issues are glaring: poor tactical setups, questionable substitutions, lack of adaptability, and a susceptibility to external influences. Many of these coaches are reportedly swayed by agents, NFF officials, and even politicians, resulting in bizarre team selections and disjointed performances. Is it any wonder the results are often subpar?
You mentioned blaming players instead of coaches, but let’s be real: Nigerian football isn’t short on talent. We’ve produced global stars like Osimhen, Ndidi, Chukwueze, and Lookman—players excelling in Europe’s toughest leagues. So why is it that when these players come under the guidance of certain local coaches, their performance dips? It’s not rocket science—the problem lies with the coach’s inability to harness their potential.
And while you’re quick to defend local coaches, let’s ask ourselves: apart from Stephen Keshi and Shuaibu Amodu, who among them has genuinely elevated Nigerian football? Keshi won us the 2013 AFCON and qualified us for the 2014 World Cup. Amodu, for all the criticism he faced, consistently delivered results, qualifying us for the World Cups and even winning the Beach Soccer AFCON when the sport was totally unknown in Nigeria. Yet these are exceptions, not the rule.
The sad truth is that most of our local coaches have failed to adapt to modern football. They lack the tactical ingenuity, game management skills, and discipline required to compete at the highest level. Worse still, many are tainted by allegations of favoritism and corruption, which undermines team cohesion and fans’ trust.
So, @Kenneth, I’ll leave you with this: in football, the coach is the general, and the players are his soldiers. If the army falters, the blame falls squarely on the general, not the foot soldiers. It’s time we held our coaches to the high standards this job demands instead of making excuses for them. Until we do, mediocrity will continue to plague Nigerian football.
Your last paragraph echoes Napoleon’s position….”There are no bad soldiers, only bad officers”.
I just hope you have not written all you have written in vain….LMAOoo
@Dr Drey, you mentioned Napoleon; let me add an intriguing perspective using
this historical analogy of the Old Oyo Empire.
In their military tradition, the Aare Ona Kakanfo—the commanding general of the army—bore ultimate responsibility for the outcomes of battles. If the army suffered defeat, the Aare was expected to commit suicide, regardless of whether the soldiers underperformed or disobeyed orders. Why? Because leadership comes with accountability. A general, just like a coach, is entrusted with the power to prepare, motivate, and direct his troops. When things go wrong, though no one is expecting him to commit suicide like the general of the Old Oyo Empire, but the buck still stops with him.
Now, imagine the Aare Ona Kakanfo returning to the king after a loss, saying, “Oh, my King, it wasn’t my fault; the soldiers didn’t fight well.” Such an excuse would never fly. The soldiers’ failure was considered a reflection of the Aare’s inability to instill discipline, strategize effectively, or inspire confidence. This principle still resonates today, especially in team sports.
In football, a coach is the modern-day general. Just as the Aare had the authority to choose his men and devise strategies, the coach has the power to select players, implement tactics, and make game-time decisions. If the team fails to perform, it’s a direct indictment of the coach’s capacity to lead. A skilled coach, like a competent general, doesn’t just blame his squad; he finds ways to overcome their weaknesses, optimize their strengths, and adapt to challenges.
History and modern examples show us the consequences of poor leadership. When the Oyo army faltered under a weak Aare Ona Kakanfo, the empire suffered. Similarly, when football teams struggle under tactically bereft or poorly motivated coaches, their potential is wasted.
So, shifting blame to the players is like absolving the Aare Ona Kakanfo for losing a battle. It’s an easy way out, but it ignores the essence of leadership and accountability. The coach is the one with the yam and the knife, and it’s his job to ensure the team takes the exact shape he wants it to take, which should be a source of pride to everyone who loves and supports the group. It’s that simple. If he can’t, he must bear the responsibility, just as leaders have done throughout history. No one should make any excuse for them.
At least he is not like like you that likes to be rude and sarcastic
@papafem, thanks for your honest and candid opinion. You rightfully correct when you said the coach should take the blame for his team under-performance. But as the Aare ona kakanfo, he believes in the warriors that he has selected and trust to execute his plans to the letter. Can you honestly fault the coach for the shambolic display of some of our players. Yes i boldly call some of them over-hyped because their is nothing fantastic in their games. You very well know some of this players are not playing up to par, the coach will not pause the game to teach “professionals” how to create chances to win a game. The players are the ones on the field of play and they know when a tactics is not working and they can quickly adjust. But no that’s not the case with our dear super Eagles. Boniface many of you have been hyping on this platform, has 11 games under his belt, played under 3 different coaches and yet can’t give us a goal, can’t be trust to deputize for oshimen. I believe Nigeria boast of the strongest striking force in Africa in terms of name, but yet some don’t come to the occasion. One thing have observe with Eguavoen is that he makes correction when the need arises, it is not left to the professionals to execute it
@Kenneth, if after the detailed explanation by@Papafem, you are still of the views that the players should be blamed and not the coach, then u seriously need a brain surgery.
Players should adjust tactics on the field of play if the one provided by the coach is not working….. Whaoo, are you that daft, do you even reason before typing?
Hahahahaha….you are the one who has claimed for years that it is the duty of the SE coach to teach SE players ball control….LMAOoo….all of a sudden you have summersalted into saying it is not the duty of the coach to teach players how to win games…..LMAOoo.
In this day and age, when we have seen coaches call players (1 or 2 or half of the team) to the sidelines to explain things to them or give them instructions during stoppages or interuptions during games….when we have seen games won and lost from the bench, sometimes with something as simple a a substitution, or a change in formation or tactic….LMAOoo….you come here rabblerousing telling us the coach cannot pause the game to teach players how to win games….LMAOoo.
Please kindly re-read Nice and Onero and take their advice….LMAOoo
I’ve warned you severally to stop opening your mouth in public so as not ridicule yourself, but you never listen…..LMAOoo.
My heartfelt sympathy to Papafem. I feared he was wasting precious time and energy
..and you didnt disappoint….LMAOoo.
Obviously he never knew who you are…..LMAOoo
Players should adjust tactics if the one provided by the coach is not working…..LMAOoo. That exactly is the reason why we dont need that coach anymore…..LMAOoo.
Papafem, you my friend are indeed one of the true “intellectuals” on this site and I do not hesitate to give you that status, neither am I giving it lightly, because I have observed a few of your contributions and you have generally made good sense in your postulations that I can recollect seeing, so walk and never stumble my friend.
As for you Kenneth, (and I have told you this before on more than one occasion) but you are not the sharpest tool in the box are you? and worse still, you are so uncouth that even a blind person can see you coming from miles off! Whatever agenda it is that you are being paid (in whatever way) to peddle on here is diabolical and against the people and nation of Nigeria – If I were in charge of the internet police, I would have had you arrested a long time ago and tossed the key to your jailhouse away. You really should be ashamed of yourself, a grown man like you with absolutely zero common sense! Kai, O mase o!
Super Eagles have gone SOUTH in FIFA rankings.
Yes you are right. They are on the ferry to SOUTHern FIFA as we speak. Which is SOUTH even Segun Best will confirm that.
Segun West bros,
Yes you are right. The Super Eagles are on the flight to SOUTH. They should arrive soon according to FIFA.
@Segun West is incorrect, Segun Best is on top
No you are right. The Super Eagles are on the flight to SOUTH. They should arrive soon according to FIFA.
@Segun Best is correct, Segun West is a 419
No you are correct. The Eagles are flying to SOUTH. They should arrive soon according to fixing some broken wings.
We need a foriegn coach. Nff Nigerians are not interested in this interim nonsense.
Foolish coach and players. Just because they have qualified for nations cup that started playing losing to Rwanda and the fools didn’t think that it will have negative impact on them.
Very indiscipline set of people.
@ field marshal when did it become a crime for me to express myself. Last I checked I didn’t shove my opinion down your throat. Didn’t know people get paid for expressing their opinion because it doesn’t go done well with some bad Belle people. Oga abeg bring your internet police, I go dey await them.
Al’ode ni e….the more you talk, the more you embarrass yourself…..Eni ti o ye ki won fi pamo, ti oun sufe….
Lol Mr Kenneth,
I really don’t want to enter into any long running feud with you and my comment was from a purely objective perspective – think about it, and see how many independent (real people) disagree with your stance on almost irrationally defending the coach and then I also noticed (only after it had been pointed out) that you also took two strongly contradicting stands – one time you were against a particular manager for being responsible for the team’s poor form/results and then in this instance you insisted that it cannot be the manager’s fault but the players, I mean, come on! those two stances can never exist together in a logical world, it can only ever be one or the other – but then I also remembered that you have been at this for a while now because I do clearly remember your stance on the whole Finidi saga when that was raging and I must say that I thought then that you were wrong and I still believe that you are wrong now, it just looks very much like you are pushing an unpopular point of view which makes me think that there is an agenda.
I want to believe that everyone here is only here for two main reasons – 1) they are staunch football fans and
2) they are loyal fans of the SE’s of Nigeria, now anyone who has those two motivating factors will not be so hell-bent on defending any particular manager even when the team are losing or not doing well because the most important thing we all want (or we should all want) should be for the team, the SE’s of Nigeria to be doing well and winning games and qualifying for all the relevant tournaments regardless of who the manager is or anything else- so I know that for me, it would not matter even if a particular manager was my own blood brother, If the team are not performing and losing under him, then I would want him out and I would also criticise him, if not publicly then in private and ask him to step aside for someone else who can do a better job, because my highest allegiance is with the team and Nigeria when it comes to our national football and it’s fortunes.
I think that you calling me bad belle (if it was me you are referring to) is below the belt and if you think that I am a bad belle for wanting only the best for my national team regardless of who is manager then I think that only proves my point about your own agenda.
@demented rodent I don’t need to read crap fro the aliases you using to be sarcastic. At least the day you were corrected that it’s the coach job to teach ball control, didn’t you mute your filthy mouth. So please what’s wrong in players adjusting their style of play on the field, now you just a dumb fool. I got your time DEMENTED RODENT
Hehehehe……what the hell is this imbecile saying….LMAOoo.
I can see you are lost for words and looking for thing air and imaginations to cling to for survival….LMAOoo
Pls which day was I corrected that it’s the coach job to teach ball control…?
Who is the dumb fool like you who thinks it is the job of the national team coach to teach professional national team players who are playing at the highest level of football ball control….??
What concrete examples or evidences did the person present that made me to keep mute…?
You that is talking, please tell us, how many serious top level national team training camps have you watched and seen the coaches teaching the players how to control a pass….LMAOOo
Cheap filthy liar….LMAOoo. You must be daydreaming…LMAOOo
The senior national team has become an academy where the basics of football like controlling a pass is taught abi…? LMAooo. Ode lasan lasan ekeji aja.
You think every one is a dumb ignorant fool like you who beleives ball control is something to be taught/learnt at full senior national team level….??
Please remind me of the name of the person who corrected me. I’d like to congratulate him/her for finally finding a soulmate in you.
Ani Ode nie se. O go, o fenu ho’ra.
See the way you are being poopoo-ed everywhere because of your daftness. Everybody suddenly becomes Dr.Drey’s aliases the moment you disgrace yourself in public and start getting whooped left right and center as a result.
So it is the duty of the national team coach to teach the players ball control but it is not his duty to teach players how to win games…..LMAOoo. Between you and I, who is the demented rodent here now….LMAOooo. Who is the dumb one…? Whose stupid comments are being thrashed like thrashing is running out of fashion….LMAOoo
Okponu. The fact that you still think players have the liberty to change a team’s style of play, in spite of the brave efforts of Papafem to knock some common sense into you, is a confirmation of the depth of your stupidity….LMAOoo.
If under your tingod Eguavoen, players get to the point where they have to “adjust their style of play when that of the coach is not working”, then your fraud of a coach needs to be sacked without a sack letter….LMAOOoo
Abirun omo.
Players should adjust tactics on the field of play if the one provided by the coach is not working…..LMAOOoo. Dumb fool.
Shebi in an examination, when the questions given to you are too difficult, you just adjust the questions and change it to your own “style”….LMAOoo
When the operational policies and procedures of the place where you work are not working, you just change it as you wish “to your own style” without the consent and approval of the management….LMAOoo
Abirun ara oko lasan lasan
Me too I got your time. Since you are ready to make a fool of yourself, I will gladly give you the honour.
Filthy demented imbecile, yes i have seen coaches suggest to players better ways to control or trap a ball. Demeted rodent, when a policy and procedure is not working and the staffs decided to tweak things a bit to make things work, what is wrong with that, management can then come back and question why such decision was taken. Ode we no be fools weeere
Hahahaha….cheap liar.
You have seen coaches “suggest” to players “better ways” to control or trap a ball…..LMAOoo…please tell us, which national team coaches were those…? And which national team players were they teaching how to trap ball….LMAOoo. Tell us in which national team camp they were teaching the players how to trap ball….LMAOOo.
So it is no longer national team coaches, teaching national team players ball control in camp…..LMAOOo…It has become I have seen coaches “suggest” to players “better ways”…..LMAOOoo.
Cheap liar has quickly inserted the words “suggest” and “better ways” after realizing how senseless his assertions are.
But I thought you said someone corrected me that it’s the national team coach’s job to teach ball control…? Why are you finding it difficult to tell us who and whom he used as reference…LMAOOo. Shameless lying pig.
So you admit that the players at that level already know how to control balls right……LMAOoo
You stupidly asked what is wrong with “tweaking” established company procedures and then you yourself turns around to still state that management queries the action….LMAOoo
I guess if “tweaking” established procedures without prior approval and pre-appraisal from the management was right, the same management would still issue a query to that effect…..LMAOoo.
Okponu…see how easily you contradict yourself….LMAOOo…???? Your brain seems programmed to auto-reverse itself…just as 1 coach can be at fault for not winning afcon, while another coach cannot be at fault for losing against minnows with the same team….LMAOOoo
Ode lasan lasan.
I don’t blame you, olodo imbeciles like you are usually bottom of the pyramid staff, so your ignorance management practises are always so glaring too see…..LMAOooo. Go and be “tweaking” company policies the way you like ehn…shebi an ya papa get the company. You will soon end up on the streets where you belong…..LMAOoo…that is if you don’t end up in jail….LMAOoo.
Didinrin omo
Since players like Amas Obasoje, Benjamin Tanimu, One funny collins from naija league, Sadiq Umar , Kelechi iheanacho etc selected/ invited themselves for matches and play, it’s truly not the fault of the coach.
“Don’t try to teach a fool, he’ll make fun of your wise words – Mother Teresa.
Hahahahaha…they were selected because the can adjust tactics on the field of play if the one provided by the coach is not working….LMAOOoo.
Not winning the AFCON was Peserio’s fault, but drawing/losing to Benin Republic (2ce on a neutral ground) and Rwanda (on home soil) is the players’ fault, never Finidi’s nor Eguavoen’s.
The players should be adjusting tactics on the field of play if the one provided by the coach is not working, because the coach is a wooden carving mounted on the bench just to occupy space. ….LMAOoo.
The players are supposed to know football tactics more than Eguavoen and his assistants. Afterall, it was also one of the experienced players on the bench who taught the same Eguavoen that Ghana’s coach had changed tactics in his failed 2022 WCQ bid on home soil.
Indeed “Don’t try to teach a fool, he’ll make fun of your wise words”
See me feeling sorry for Papafem….LMAOOo
Demented rodent stop using other names to disguise, we know its you, yes he invited them and for them to come and play rubbish. Yeye dey smell, if they don’t invite certain players now you will come back here and be ranting.
Hahahahaha….even Sean has become a demented rodent too…LMAOoo.
Everybody who doesn’t side with your stupidity becomes a demented rodent.
It’s seeming more like you are the demented one with every comment you drop here like fart in an airtight store….LMAOoo
Your Eguavoen invited them to come and play rubbish and I am sure he will still invite them again (as he has been doing) to come and play rubbish…..LMAOoo.
That confirms the fact that Eguavoen himself is a rubbish coach, just like your uncle Finidi…LMAOoo
Demetia Rodent we know sean is you, so please go wank yourself to sleep, Why not go and apply for the job since you know better