The Super Eagles have fallen by eight places in the latest FIFA rankings, moving to 38th globally following a dismal outing in the race for the 2026 World Cup.
The team lost to the Benin Republic for the first time and drew with South Africa in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers for Africa.
The Super Eagles are now 5th in Africa, with Morocco moving up one place as the best team in Africa, placing 12th globally.
Senegal is ranked 18th, Egypt 36th, and Cote d’Ivoire 37th globally, in second, third, and fourth place, respectively, on the continental rankings.
Argentina, France, Belgium, Brazil, and England occupy the first five positions globally.
Following the dismal showing, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said it would hire a technical adviser for the team in the coming weeks.
Finidi George resigned as the head coach of the Super Eagles less than two months after being appointed.
The Nigeria Football Federation has decided to appoint an expatriate Technical Adviser to oversee the Super Eagles.
This move comes ahead of the upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifiers and the remaining 2026 World Cup qualifying matches, and is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.
The decision was contained in a communiqué made available to newsmen on Thursday.
According to the communiqué, the Executive Committee of NFF held a meeting on Wednesday, to deliberate on important issues.
The Executive Committee wholeheartedly apologised to Nigerians for the dismal output and subsequent very poor returns of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, in four out of 10 matches in the ongoing qualification series for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals,” the communiqué partly read.
They assured Nigerians that they will put necessary measures in place to ensure a better-prepared squad ahead of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers in September and the resumption of the World Cup qualifiers.
The Executive Committee resolved to employ an expatriate Technical Adviser for the Super Eagles in the coming weeks, ahead of the AFCON qualifiers and the remaining FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
The committee resolved to beef up the NFF Technical Department with more qualitative hands. Equally, the Technical and Development Sub-Committee will be re-jigged with immediate effect,” the communique added.
The Board also expressed displeasure with the poor attitude of some of the players “notwithstanding the challenges that attended the team’s preparations for the Day 3 and Day 4 games of the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, owing to a 38-hour nationwide industrial action.”
The board decided in favour of a more robust scouting programme of outstanding Nigeria-eligible players from across the globe, “who can add tremendous value to the nation’s flagship team.”
