Eagles make big leap in FIFA rankings

Nigeria  are now  50th in  the world after moving up 10 places in the latest FIFA Rankings  released  on Thursday.

The three-time African champions moved  from 60 to 50, while their 2018 World Cup qualifying opponents Algeria and Cameroon dropped from their previous spots. The other team in their group, Zambia, also moved up in the rankings.

The Super Eagles have now broken into the top 10 teams in Africa as they are now eighth on the continent, after their 2-1 victory against Zambia on October 9 was followed by  their  3-1 defeat of Algeria in Uyo  on November 12.

It is the first time this year the Eagles will be ranked in the top 50 in the world and the top 10 in Africa in 2016.

African champions Ivory Coast (34), who dropped three spots in the world, dropped a spot to second on the continent and are replaced at the top by Senegal (33), who also dropped a spot in the world rankings.

North Africans, Tunisia (34) and Egypt (36), climbed up four and 10 places in the rankings respectively to be Africa’s third and fourth teams while Algeria (38), who the Eagles defeated in Uyo in their Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier, dropped three spots in the world. They are now Africa’s fifth ranked team.

DR Congo (47) climbed up two spots while Burkina Faso (50) climbed up 17 places to be ranked Africa’s sixth and seventh ranked teams. Ghana, who dropped eight spots in the world rankings, and Morocco, who moved up three places, complete Africa’s top 10 for November.

Nigeria’s next opponents in the World Cup qualifiers Cameroon (65) dropped six places after their two 1-1 draws against Algeria and Zambia in the qualifiers. They are 13th in Africa. Zambia (91) moved up three places after their away draw with Cameroon.

The Eagles have been unbeaten under coach Gernot Rohr after three straight wins over Tanzania, Zambia and Algeria.

Argentina maintained their number one position while Brazil replaced Germany as the second best team in the world. Chile are now fourth while Belgium dropped to fifth on the ranking table. Colombia, France, Portugal, Uruguay and Spain complete the top 10 in the world.