Nigeria’s Super Eagles retained their 26th-place position in the FIFA World Rankings released Thursday, remaining the third-highest-ranked side in Africa as reigning world champions Argentina held firm at the summit ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The Super Eagles are the second-highest-ranked nation to miss the expanded 48-team World Cup, with only Denmark, ranked 21st globally, sitting above them among countries that failed to qualify.

Nigeria’s mixed run of results in the June international window left their position unchanged. The three-time African champions won the Unity Cup invitational tournament in London, defeating Zimbabwe 2-0 and Jamaica 3-0, then drew 2-2 with Poland in Warsaw before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Portugal in Leiria on Wednesday.

Morocco and Senegal remain ahead of Nigeria in the African standings, with Algeria and Egypt completing the continent’s top five.

At the top of the global table, Argentina reclaimed first place ahead of the World Cup, with Spain second and France third after a mixed international window. England and Portugal complete the top five.

The next FIFA rankings update is scheduled for July 20, shortly after the conclusion of the World Cup. The rankings carry tournament significance: they serve as the final tiebreaker should two or more teams finish level on points at the end of the group stage.