Fifa Ranking: Nigeria Drop 4 Places On Fifa Ranking

 

Nigeria dropped four places in the new Fifa World Ranking to 37th and now 6th in the Confederation of African Football (Caf) zone, following a sluggish start in qualifying matches for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). 

The 3-2 defeat by Congo in Calabar and last 2 weeks dour stalemate against South Africa in Cape Town, means the 2013 Afcon winner dropped 31 points and have fallen out of the Top 5 teams in the continent.
Congo, who top Group A of the 2015 Afcon qualifier with maximum points after two rounds of matches, were one of the three teams to reach their highest-ever positions on the world football performance table released on September 18, leaping 30 places to break into the Top 50 on the 48th spot. Others being Iceland (34th, up 12) and Antigua-Barbuda (80th, up 69).


The pair of finalist at this year’s World Cup Germany and Argentina have extended their lead at the summit, but Colombia leapfrogged Brazil 2014 third-placed team the Netherlands to third, as Guus Hiddink’s men continue licking the wound from their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Czech Republic in their opening qualifying match for UEFA EURO 2016. On that note, ‘Los Cafeteros’ equaled their highest-ever position, having previously achieved third in July and August 2013.

After three wins in four matches- including a win against World Cup participant Honduras- in the qualifiers for the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2015, Guatemala are the most improved team and have climbed 77 places to 57th in the table.

Algeria yet top Africa’s rating, as Senegal and Ghana overtook the Super Eagles to 4th and 5th respectively.
Caf Zone Top 10 ranking
20 1 Algeria
22 2 Côte d’Ivoire
31 3 Tunisia
33 4 Ghana
36 5 Senegal
37 6 Nigeria
41 7 Cape Verde Islands
42 8 Cameroon
48 9 Guinea
48 10 Burkina Faso