Nigeria’s Super Eagles was unchanged on the latest FIFA ranking released on Thursday. The three-time African champions maintained its unimpressive 66th in the global tally as well as shocking 14th position in Africa, same position it occupied last December.
The highest ranked African country remains Ivory Coast on 19th position in the world and number one in the continent while Algeria kept the second spot same as Ghana, Cape Verde Island, Tunisia and Senegal in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth position respectively.
In the world, Belgium kept the first position followed by the South American heavy weights, Argentina, Spain, Germany, Chile, Brazil, Portugal, Colombia, England and Austria in that order.
The confederation leaders for the first ranking of 2016 mirror those of December’s ranking, with Belgium (Europe), Argentina (South America), Ivory Coast (Africa), Mexico (CONCACAF), Iran (Asia) and New Zealand (Oceania) holding onto continental bragging rights for the time being.
Although, 15 games from December 2015 and one “A” match from 2016 have been evaluated for the latest edition, most countries retained their positions from last Year due to lack of team actions.
Nigeria may witness an improved ranking in the February and March 2016 editions should the Super Eagles team B excel at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Eagles will confront Africa’s two best ranked countries, Tunisia and Guinea in CHAN Group C qualification race for a quarter finals berth and expectations are high that the Sunday Oliseh-led Eagles will reach the finals on February 7.
By Olisemeka Obeche