The Super Eagles, once undisputedly Africa’s most valuable national team, have slipped to seventh place in the latest Transfermarkt market value rankings, as Morocco, Ivory Coast and Senegal surge clear of the pack ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Saturday PUNCH reports.

With Nigeria’s current squad valued at €172.05m — a figure dragged down by injuries, inconsistent form and the inclusion of several lower-valued players from domestic and emerging leagues.

Victor Osimhen remains the face of the squad and one of the continent’s biggest stars, but significant value drops elsewhere have taken their toll, while Ademola Lookman and Terem Moffi have also seen their valuations fluctuate due to form and changing club situations.

Ivory Coast lead the continent with a staggering squad value of €522.10m, driven largely by teenage sensation Yan Diomandé, whose extraordinary rise at RB Leipzig has made him Africa’s most valuable player at €90m. Senegal sit second at €478.10m, with a youthful core built around Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson and Lamine Camara replacing the Sadio Mané generation.

Morocco occupy third place at €447.70m, with captain Achraf Hakimi, valued at €80m, leading a squad reinforced by Ayyoub Bouaddi’s defection from France.

Algeria (€256.90m) and Ghana (€234.60m) round out the top five, with Antoine Semenyo’s €72m January move from Bournemouth to Manchester City propelling the Black Stars back into Africa’s five most valuable sides. Cameroon, boosted by Bryan Mbeumo’s €75m valuation following his transfer to Manchester United, sit sixth at €198.70m — just above Nigeria.

DR Congo (€143.90m), Mali (€116.55m) and Egypt (€116.48m) complete the top ten. Mali’s rise is largely credited to Mamadou Sangaré, the 23-year-old RC Lens midfielder who became the first Malian to win the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé award. Egypt, meanwhile, have been affected by a drop in Mohamed Salah’s valuation — now at €22m at age 33 — though Omar Marmoush’s €50m price tag provides some cushioning.

Tunisia and Burkina Faso have both dropped out of the continent’s top ten entirely, while Cape Verde continue a remarkable climb, now sitting 15th as they prepare for their first-ever World Cup appearance. South Africa, Guinea and Angola remain in Africa’s top 20 but have not yet broken into the elite tier. (PUNCH)

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