Nigeria Crashes On FIFA Ranking Again

Nigeria’s football continues with its steady decline, as the country dropped by three spots in the monthly FIFA ranking released from Zurich today.

Before the ranking was released by FIFA today, the nation was on 57th position in the world, and seventh in Africa, but is now ranked 60th in the World and 10th in Africa.

With a total of 554 points, Nigeria moved down three places as against her previous position occupied in the last ranking released in March.

Co-incidentally, Nigeria’s opponents in Thursday’s international friendly match to be played in Dubai, Egypt, goes five places above Nigeria. Egypt is now ranked 55th in the world and eight in Africa.

Since 1994 that Nigeria was ranked 5th in the World, the country has not come close to the top on the Ranking.

Ivory Coast is the highest ranked African country on 15th position, closely followed by Ghana who is second in Africa and 22nd in the World.

Zambia, who won the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, climbed a step upward to 40th position . This is the first time since February 2001 Zambia has made it to the top 40.

Spain maintained her position as the best football team in world and is followed by Germany and South American champions, Uruguay, who reached her all-time high, as the third best team in the world.

Alongside Libya and El Salvador, the Philippines (148th, up 8) also achieved their highest-ever position since the introduction of the global ranking, thanks to their excellent performances at the AFC Challenge Cup, where they finished third.

Twenty-four matches were taken into account for the April edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

However, former Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles, Joe Erico is not surprised with the position of Nigeria on the latest FIFA Ranking.

Erico believes that Nigeria will continue to drop on FIFA Ranking if the national teams fail step up their games both in international matches and qualifying series.

“We have not worked hard and that is why we don’t deserve to be in high position on FIFA Ranking. Our sports administrators need to work hard if we want to move forward,” Erico said.

—Bamidele Olowosagba/Sunday Akintoye