FIFA Ranking: Super Eagles now 4th in Africa, 38th in world

By Taofeek Babalola

Nigeria senior national team, Super Eagles have stepped up in the April edition of Men’s FIFA ranking released on Thursday morning in both the continent and world by the world football body.

The coach Gernot Rohr's-tutored side improved on their performance in the latest ranking from last month by moving up one place in Africa to become 4th and two places to become 38th in the world as against the 5th and 40th positions occupied respectively in the last ranking.

The Eagles, who are yet to lose a game under the tutelage of German tactician, raked up 730 points better than 726 points gathered last month

The Super Eagles will this evening battle the Hawks of Togo in a friendly before hosting South Africa in a 2019 Nations Cup qualifier.

However, Nigeria’s opponent in the AFCON qualifier South Africa was ranked 65th in the world and 12th in Africa with 547 points.

Meanwhile, there is little surprise that most of the top ten remain unchanged, with Brazil, Argentina and Germany retaining their place as the top three. Poland (tenth, up one place) have managed to gatecrash the top ten for the first time in the Ranking’s history, with the side currently sitting top of Group E in the UEFA section of World Cup qualifying joining Spain on 1198 ranking points, meaning they share tenth spot.

Another pair of sides who share a space in the Ranking are United Kingdom neighbours Wales (13th) and England (13th, up one place) thanks to the Three Lions’ slight rise.

Along with Poland, three other sides who have impressed of late in their respective confederations in World Cup qualifying have reached their all-time high in the June edition, with Peru (15th, up two spots), Syria (77th, up three places) and Papua New Guinea (153rd, up three places), climbing to their loftiest position since the Ranking began almost a quarter-of-a-century ago. 

The next FIFA Ranking is set for July 6th.

TOP 10 AFRICAN TEAMS

Egypt

Senegal

Cameroon

Nigeria

Congo D.R

Tunisia

Burkina Faso

Cote D' Ivoire

Ghana

Algeria

TOP 10 WORLD TEAMS

Brazil

Argentina

Germany

Chile

Colombia

France

Belgium

Portugal

Switzerland

Spain/Poland

*Spain and Poland are both 10th in the world