Despite failing to pick AFCON 2015 ticket, African champions, the Super Eagles, have retained their 42nd spot on the FIFA monthly ranking.
The ranking released from FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich on Thursday puts Nigeria in the 42nd place in the world and ninth best in Africa.
On the continent, the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup winners are placed behind Algeria, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Ghana, Guinea, Cape Verde Island and Cameroon.
Nigeria polled 656 points, which is a slight improvement from that of last month and are expected to suffer a slide on the rankings after the AFCON.
The Stephen Keshi lads lost out the AFCON 2015 ticket to South Africa and Congo.