Mali defeat sees Nigeria drop in latest FIFA ranking

• World football governing body, FIFA, has released the new rankings for national football teams.
• After recording mixed results during the period under review, Nigeria's Super Eagles have experienced a slight setback, slipping two places in the latest ranking.

The Super Eagles played two international friendly matches in March, clinching a 2-1 victory over Ghana before a subsequent 2-1 defeat at the hands of Mali's Les Aigles.

This mixed performance led to Nigeria's descent from 28th to 30th place in the global ranking unveiled on April 4, 2024.

Despite this descent, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finalist still stands tall, ahead of Erling Haaland's Norway (47th), Mohamed Salah's Egypt (37th), Mohammed Kudus' Ghana (68th), and the upcoming World Cup co-hosts, Canada (49th).

In Africa, Nigeria remain among the best national teams, securing the third spot behind Morocco (13th) and Senegal (17th). Egypt (37th), Cote d’Ivoire (38th), and Tunisia (41st) closely trail, forming the top five on the continent.

On the global stage, world champions Argentina retain their crown as the top-ranked nation, with France, Belgium, England, and Brazil in pursuit. Portugal, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Croatia complete the top ten.

Looking ahead, the anticipation mounts for the next FIFA ranking update, slated for release after June's international break.