By Chiemeka Ugwowo
Super Eagles Miss 2026 World Cup Despite Ranking 
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are forced to watch from the sidelines, even as one of the highest-ranked teams not at the tournament.
The latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking places Nigeria 26th globally, making them the second-highest-ranked nation to miss out, just behind Denmark at 21st.
Under coach Éric Chelle, the Super Eagles have been on the rise, winning the Unity Cup in London with victories over Zimbabwe (2-0) and Jamaica (3-0), drawing 2-2 with Poland, and narrowly losing 2-1 to Portugal.
Africa-wise, Nigeria remains third on the continent, behind Morocco (7th) and Senegal, and ahead of Algeria and Egypt. Their 26th position also marks Nigeria’s highest FIFA ranking in nearly a decade, boosted by a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
