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Nigeria Overtake Ghana in FIFA Rankings

Written by Adeleke Afolayan

Wednesday, 12 November 2008

Nigeria's fine end to the second qualifying phase of the 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations continues to yield dividends after the Super Eagles rose five places on the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World rankings released today.

The rise also made Nigeria the third best football country in Africa behind Cameroun and African champions Egypt with the Indomitable Lions falling two places to 14th in the world but remaining number one in Africa while the Pharaohs rose one place to 21st in the world to be second in Africa.

The Super Eagles now find themselves in 22nd on the world rankings with 859 points, 27 points behind Egypt while Ghana's Black Stars dropped one place to 26th on the rankings with 805 points.

The Elephants of Cote D'Ivoire come in fifth in Africa and 28th on the world rankings while Nigeria's main threat in the final qualifying phase, Tunisia remains eighth in Africa and 47th in the world behind Guinea in 39th and Morocco in 43rd and just ahead of Stephen Keshi's Mali which is 49th after rising four places.

Nigeria's other group opponents in World and Nations Cup qualifying make the top 100 with Kenya dropping six places to 85th while Mozambique rose eight places to 92nd on the world ranking.

European champions Spain continue to lead the world, well ahead of second placed Germany that swapped places with Italy as the Azurris have had a slow start to World Cup qualifying in Europe.

Brazil and Argentina come in fifth and sixth respectively behind Holland while England shares 10th spot with Portugal behind qualifying group rivals Croatia in seventh, Euro 2008 semi-finalists Russia and the Czech Republic.

The last FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for 2008 will be released on December 17. Nigeria in the meantime will be guest of Colombia in an international friendly on November 19 in Cali.

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