FIFA Ranking: Nigeria stay 26th in the world ahead of Ghana, DR Congo, South Africa and Algeria

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are still the 26th best footballing team in the world. That number has not moved in the latest FIFA rankings published on April 1.

It is a position built on the back of an impressive AFCON 2025 campaign, where Eric Chelle's side went unbeaten in regulation time across seven matches and returned from Morocco with a bronze medal.

But the ranking now carries an uncomfortable footnote. Of the top 30 nations in the world, only three will not be at the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer: Italy in 12th, Denmark in 20th, and Nigeria in 26th.

Nigeria are ranked above every African team at the tournament except Morocco and Senegal. They are ranked above Ghana, Algeria, Egypt, South Africa and DR Congo. But they will not be there.

In the world, the biggest story in the April update is France returning to the summit. Les Bleus climbed to first place for the first time since September 2018, leapfrogging Spain and Argentina after two wins in their most recent friendlies, while Spain were held to a draw with Egypt. The rest of the top ten is unchanged.

In Africa, Nigeria's position as the continent's third-ranked nation remains secure. Morocco hold eighth globally, Senegal are 19th, and Nigeria at 26th sit comfortably ahead of Algeria in 34th, Egypt in 35th and Ivory Coast in 38th, with Ghana, DR Congo, Tunisia and South Africa following further down.

Nigeria beat or drew with every African side at AFCON 2025 except Morocco. The results are in the ranking. The qualification campaign, which ended in heartbreak against DR Congo on penalties, is also in the history books.

The March friendlies against Iran and Jordan, a 2-1 win and a 2-2 draw, were not enough to shift Nigeria's points total meaningfully.

The ranking system rewards competitive results heavily, and friendlies against Asian opposition carry limited weight in the calculation. The next update is scheduled for June 10, by which point the World Cup will be well underway.

Nigeria will be watching, from 26th place, with a squad that is improving, a coach building something and a defensive core that just impressed across two games in Turkey, the wait for 2027 AFCON qualifiers begins. The ranking is where they belong. The World Cup was not.