Nigeria moves 22 places in FIFA rankings

 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved 22 places in the latest FIFA rankings for the month of February.

The latest might not be unconnected with the African Cup of Nations and the World qualifiers including the friendly matches the team played enroute to the just-concluded African Cup of Nations, AFCON in South Africa.

The victorious Super Eagles

Nigeria now occupies 30th position in the world and 4^th in the continent. According to the latest rankings, Burkina Faso, who Nigeria defeated by 1-0 in the final of the AFCON in South Africa jumped 37 places to 55^th position, while Cote d'Ivoire beaten 2-1 by Nigeria in the quarter-finals, remained  highest-ranked in Africa at 12th, followed by Ghana in 19th. Mali occupies the 3^rd place in the continent.

The surprise team at the just-concluded AFCON, Cape Verde, moved up 13 places to 63^rd. Meanwhile, Spain retained its number one position. Surprisingly, former number one, Brazil presently occupies the 18^th position in the world rankings.

The best 10 nations in the world are: (1) Spain; (2) Germany; (3) Argentina; (4) Italy; (5) Colombia (6) England; (7) Portugal;  (8) Netherlands;  (9) Russia; (10) Croatia.