Two straight defeats in their last couple of World Cup build-up matches, plus a draw at home against DR Congo have seen Nigeria drop by a spot to 48th position in the monthly FIFA global ranking.
While the Eagles fall in the wake of defeats by England and Czech Republic, the first opponent they will face at this year’s World Cup, Croatia also go down after losing 2-0 to Brazil last weekend at Anfield in England.
Nigeria’s three rivals in the group stage of Russia 2018 World Cup – Argentina, Croatia and Iceland – sit in the 5th, 20th and 22nd place respectively in the updated rankings.
Nigeria remain seventh in the African continental ranking, in which Tunisia, Senegal, Congo DR, Morocco and Egypt are the top five teams in that order.
It has not been a great last ten days for the national team after they were narrowly beaten by England and Czech Republic in friendlies, and they were forced to a 1-1 draw by Democratic Republic of Congo.
South Africa, Libya and Seychelles, Nigeria’s opponents in the 2019 African Nations Cup qualifiers, are in the 74th, 101st and 188th positions respectively.
Ahead of their trip to Russia for the World Cup, Germany top the ranking, with Brazil, Belgium and Portugal completing the best five teams in the world.
