Having an impressive track record, throughout the qualifying rounds, was not enough to shift Nigeria forward in the latest World FIFA Ranking released on Thursday 23, November.
The Super Eagles moved 9 steps down and are now in 50th position with 671 points; 50 points less than their previous points in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.
This drop has also affected the Super Eagles’ place in Africa as they are now behind Senegal who are currently occupying position 23, with 884 points, Tunisia in position 27, with 834 points, Egypt in position 31, with 805 points, Congo Dr in position 36, with 764 points, Morocco in position 40, with 738 points, Burkina Faso in position 44, with 705 points and Cameroon occupy position 45 with 696 points. Making Nigeria number 8th in Africa’s ranking.
The Super Eagles are the only African team, not in the top 5 to qualify for the World Cup.
The ranking will be of no impact during the draws, scheduled for the 1st of next month. That said, the Super Eagles would need to be more prepared for next year’s tournaments, as every country ahead of Nigeria in the ranking, may think of them as easy picking despite our victories so far.
Meanwhile, in the overall top 10 ranked teams, Germany is still in first place with 1602 points, Brazil is following closely in second place, Portugal is in third. Argentina maintained fourth place despite their monumental defeat to Nigeria in an international friendly. Belgium still occupies fifth place, while Spain moved up to the sixth position, Poland is in seventh place. Switzerland moved into the top ten bracket and is now eight, France is in ninth and Chile in tenth place completes the top ten.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on the 21st of December 2017.
Featured image credit: Wikimedia.org
