The Super Eagles hit a new low after the latest and final FIFA rankings of 2024 were released, and they maintained their position, which was published last month.
Nigeria had highs and lows in 2024, with the high point being reaching the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which they lost to host country Ivory Coast.
Their lowest point is losing 2-1 to Benin Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June and ending their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 2-1 home loss to Rwanda.
Super Eagles hit six-year low
According to the FIFA rankings released today, December 19, 2024, which is the final list of 2024, the Super Eagles of Nigeria maintained the 44th spot from November.
The three-time African champions also maintained their fifth spot in Africa behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and Algeria, ranked 14th, 17th, 33rd and 37th in the world.
As noted by Score Nigeria, this is the lowest year-end ranking the Nigerian national team have achieved since 2018, when they also finished 44th even though they had lower points.
The team’s highest ranking was 28th place, which happened after they reached the AFCON 2023 final, but a disastrous end to the AFCON 2025 qualifier dropped them down the table.
The team had three managers in 2024. It started with Jose Peseiro, who quit after AFCON 2023; Finidi George managed four games, and Augustine Eguavoen coached six games for the AFCON 2025 qualifier. They played 18 games, won nine, drew four and lost five games.
NFF set to lose player to Germany
Legit reported that the NFF are set to lose a player to Germany, with the European country set to call up a player of dual heritage that the AFCON 2023 finalists have an eye on.
Head coach Julian Nagelsmann is set to hand a senior national team debut to Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nnamdi Collins if he keeps up his current form.
