5th June, 2014
Sunday Akintoye
Nigeria’s Super Eagles face a tough task qualifying from Group F of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as less fancied group opponents, Iran and Bosnia are going to the Mundial ranking higher than the Nigerian team.
In June World Ranking released by FIFA early today, while Nigeria remain static in number 44 in the world as they did last month, group opponents, Bosnia moved up four places to rank 21 in the world, while Iran another opponent were ranked 43rd.
Going by the ranking, there are indications that Iran and Bosnia may not be less fancied going into the World Cup as pundits thought.
Less than seven days to FIFA World Cup, Nigeria’s Super Eagles this morning failed to move up in the latest FIFA ranking released this morning by the Federation International Football Association FIFA.
Last month, the Eagles moved up to 44th in the overall ranking and sixth in Africa. It is the same position that they maintained this month and will remain like that till the next release is made, possibly after the World Cup tournament in Brazil, which ends next month.
Nigeria polled a total of 640 points and will be looking at gathering more points to rise up on the log.
Nigeria’s case was not enhanced with the last two draws that they have played, most especially that of Scotland which was considered in this ranking.
Meanwhile, Algeria are now the highest ranked African team, moving up three places to place 22nd in the world.
Côte d’Ivoire slumped down two places to 23rd and 2nd in Africa, while Egypt who will not be at the World Cup went down twelve places to 36th in the world.
In the overall ranking, Brazil have steadily found their way to third position with Spain and Germany unchallenged in the first and second positions respectively. Argentina and Switzerland moved two places up to fifth and sixth respectively on the log.