Nigeria Super Eagles miss 2026 World Cup, climb to 24th in FIFA rankings

Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team, the Super Eagles, rose from 26th to 24th in the latest FIFA World Rankings despite failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The improvement reflects weaker results by rivals such as Portugal, Senegal, Belgium, Algeria and Ecuador, while teams like Australia, Egypt, Norway and Canada gained points from strong tournament performances.

Former players have lamented the nation’s absence. Ex‑defender Ben Iroha said the tournament lacks the “flavour” the Super Eagles usually bring, recalling the electric atmosphere of Nigeria’s debut at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Former defender Chikelue Iloenyosi expressed optimism that the current squad can win the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, citing the team’s depth and recent successes in AFCON competitions.

Analysts also debated how Nigeria’s squad depth might have fared had the team qualified, highlighting key players such as goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Emmanuel Fernandez and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi, and striker Victor Osimhen.