6th June, 2013
Despite taking four points out of a maximum of six in their last two matches, the Nigeria’s Super Eagles still dropped three places in the monthly FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking released early today from the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
The African champions who were ranked 28th in April now occupy the 31st spot on the latest FIFA ranking released for the month of May.
The coach Stephen Keshi-led Eagles recently held Mexico to a 2-2 draw in an international friendly played in Houston, Texas, USA and on Wednesday defeated the Harambe stars of Kenya 1-0 on away soil to maintain the fourth best African country in the world.
Ivory Coast moved one place down from 12th position to 13th but still remain the number one best team in Africa.
Ghana remain second in Africa after climbing up one place in the latest world ranking from 22nd to 21st position, while Mali climbed from 26th to 23th spot to maintain their third position in Africa.
The Netherlands moved three spots to dethrone Portugal from the top five as Spain, Germany Argentina and Croatia maintained their places in the top five.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 4 July, 2013.
—Bamidele Olowosagba