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.

The first FIFA ranking of the women’s national teams for 2024 appeared was officially released by world football governing body, FIFA on Friday, 15 March.

Nigeria went down two places from the rankings, going from 32nd to 34th position but maintain their lead on the continental.

In the African rankings, the Nigeria are followed reigning African champions, South Africa who moved one place up the world rankings to 51st.

Morocco are third on the continent, while occupying position 58 in the world. The Copper Queens of Zambia moved an impressive five spots to position 65.

World champions, Spain retain their lead in the global rankings.

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

The good run of the Super Eagles at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations has yielded good dividends as the team is now ranked number 3 in Africa and 28 in the world.

They moved 14 steps up the ladder from their previous 42^nd position. This is their best ranking since February 2008 when they ranked 19^th in the world.

Morocco however still remain the highest ranked African team despite not moving beyond the Round of 16 where they were eliminated by South Africa.

The Atlas Lions moved a step upward in global ranking from 13^th to 12^th. The total points they have gathered over the years still weigh in their favour.

At the moment they have 1663.69 as against the 1661.69 which they had as at the last ranking in December.

Nigeria’s current point-haul stand at 1522.26 which is 141.43 behind that of Africa’s number one team. It will therefore take a while before Nigeria gets to the number one position which they last occupied in February 2008.