Thanks to away win over Sierra Leone, Super Eagles climb a step in FIFA Ranking

Published

1 year ago

June 29, 2023

Super Eagles of Nigeria are now 39^th in the FIFA Ranking released this Thursday morning. It was a slight improvement on the 4oth position they were in the last ranking done in April.

Their away win over Sierra Leone which also secured a qualification to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations may have been a contributory factor to the slight rise.

The Super eagles are however still out of the top five in the continent as Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Algeria- in that order – are unrelenting in their grip of the top position.

Morocco’s Atlas Lions, the only African team to have reached the semi-finals of the World Cup are still number 1 in Africa and 13^th globally. They are followed by Senegal who are 18^th in the world.

Tunisia are third in Africa and 31^st in the world while the number 4 ranked African team, Algeria are 34^th in the world.

Globally, Argentina are still number 1.

Nearly three months on from regaining top spot in the FIFA World Ranking, La Albiceleste remain out front thanks to friendly wins over Australia and Indonesia.

The top three is also unchanged, with the reigning world champions staying ahead of France (2nd) and Brazil (3rd).

The descent gear still on as Super Eagles drop in FIFA Ranking

Published

1 week ago

July 18, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Cote d’ivoire have overtaken the Nigeria Super Eagles in the current ranking released by FIFA on Thursday morning. Nigeria dropped from 38 to 39^th position and ranks fifth position. There has been a steady drop in the team’s ranking lately following dismal post Afcon 2023 performances.

Most appalling is the fact that the team has not won any World Cup qualifying match since their 2-0 defeat of Liberia on 13 November 2021.

They have since gone seven matches without winning any. In contrast, Morocco continues to hold on tenaciously to the first position in the continent.

Overall, Argentina bounced into the first position in the world after their last weekend’s triumph in the Copa America. Newly crowned European champions Spain rose to third position.

FIFA RANKING

Super Eagles plunge in latest FIFA ranking

Published

1 month ago

June 20, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The dismal performances of the Nigeria national team, Super Eagles have reflected in the current FIFA ranking released this Thursday.

Nigeria dropped eight steps down the ladder from 30^th position to 38^th. They are also fifth in the continent as Morocco and Senegal hold on tenaciously to the top two positions.

The two World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic which the Super Eagles bungled may have been responsible for the big plunge.

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Loss to Mali may have pushed Nigeria down in latest FIFA ranking –

Published

4 months ago

April 4, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The 2-0 loss to Mali last week in Morocco may have caused the Super Eagles to drop from last month’s 28^th position to 30^th as the latest FIFA ranking was released Thursday morning.

But despite the drop in global ranking, the Super Eagles are still third in Africa behind Morocco and Senegal.

The Nigeria versus Mali match was just one of the 174 games at the last international window. Nigeria played two matches, one of which Nigeria won one, a 2-1 defeat of their traditional rivals, the Black Stars of Ghana.

According to a press release by FIFA, the matches, played all over the world had a significant effect on the current World Ranking, most notably within the top ten.

Argentina (1st) continue to lead the way ahead of France (2nd), but Belgium (3rd, up 1) have returned to the podium at the expense of England (4th, down 1). Brazil (5th) complete the top five, but Portugal (6th, up 1) are now knocking on the door. The Netherlands (7th, down 1) have slipped one place, whereas Spain (8th), Italy (9th) and Croatia (10th) have all held on to their positions.

The USA (11th, up 2), Colombia (12th, up 2), Ukraine (22nd, up 2) and Poland (28th, up 2) have all made progress up the ranking, as have Czechia (36th, up 4), Palestine (93rd, up 4) and Kyrgyz Republic (100th, up 4), all of whom have taken the biggest strides among the top 100 teams.

It is outside of the top 100, however, that the biggest movers are to be found. Libya (114th, up 6) and Afghanistan (151st, up 7) have made impressive progress, but it is Indonesia (134th, up 8) who are the biggest climbers on the back of their two victories over Vietnam during FIFA World Cup 26 qualifiers.

Finally, the performances of Qatar (34th, up 3) and Comoros (117th, up 4) are also worthy of mention as both teams are now currently in their highest-ever position in the ranking.