Nigeria rise in FIFA ranking

Posted by admin Headlines, Soccer, Sports Thursday, July 5th, 2012

Nigeria has moved two places up to number 58 in the latest FIFA World Ranking. The latest ranking comes as a relief to the Super Eagles after the team emerged undefeated in three competitive games in June.

Nigeria are now ranked 10th best team in Africa.

The Eagles defeated Rwanda 2-0 to book a place in the next round of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers while they also sit atop Group F of the African qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with four points from two games.

They defeated Namibia 1-0 in Calabar before they were held to a 1-1 draw by Malawi in Blantyre.

Cote d’Ivoire (16) are Africa’s top team in the latest ranking with Ghana (33), Algeria (35), Libya (39), Mali (40), Zambia (41), Egypt (42), Tunisia (43), Gabon (45) and Nigeria (58) completing the continent’s top 10 list.

Meanwhile Brazil have dropped out of the top 10 for the first time. Mano Menezes’ side slipped six spots in the latest list and now sit in 11th, some way behind Spain who extended their advantage on the back of the successful defence of their European Championship crown.

Germany moved up to second ahead of Uruguay, with England rising two places to fourth on the back of some positive results under new manager Roy Hodgson.

Portugal’s run to the Euro 2012 semi-finals was enough to move up to fifth ahead of losing finalists Italy, who rose six places as European teams enjoyed a big boost in points.

Argentina stayed in seventh, with Holland the biggest losers among the European teams having been knocked out of Euro 2012 in the group stage – they fall four places to eighth. Croatia and Denmark complete the top 10.

-Punchwp_posts