Nigeria’s senior national football team, the Super Eagles dropped three places in the latest monthly ranking released by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) on Thursday. The ranking was released on the official website of the world soccer governing body on Thursday.
Jose Peseiro’s side although maintained their position among the top five teams in Africa, they however slipped from fourth to fifth position.
The Atlas Lions of Morocco moved to top position on the ranking in Africa following their impressive performance at the just concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The Terangha Lions of Senegal dropped to second position on the continent with Tunisia remaining in third position, while the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon jumped to fourth position.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina lifted the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy beating France in the finals. However, that was also not enough for the nation to become the number 1 in FIFA rankings. Brazil, who were eliminated by Croatia in the quarterfinals are still the number 1 nation in world football. Argentina moved up one place to number two and beaten finalist France, also, rose one to number three.
Belgium is still at number four, a fall of two places, despite winning only one game in Qatar and failing to advance from the group stage. England and the Netherlands, both beaten quarterfinalists, stay at Numbers five and six respectively. Croatia climbed five places to number seven. European champion Italy is at No. 8 despite failing to qualify for the World Cup. Morocco is the best-placed African nation at No. 11, up 11 places, for its historic run to the semi-finals.
The United States at No. 13 is the best of the CONCACAF region teams, rising three places after advancing to the round of 16. Mexico is No. 15. Japan leads the Asian confederation teams at No. 20, up four places, and Australia rises 11 places to No. 27. Both reached the round of 16. Cameroon, which beat Brazil in the group stage, rose 10 places to be No. 33. (With PTI inputs).
