FIFA Ranking: Nigeria Remains 36 as Senegal Jumps to 18

By Adedapo Adesanya

Despite a very short outing at the just concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON), Nigeria made no movement in the February 2022 edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking as it remained in the 36th position.

As the tournament came to a wrap on Sunday, it generated most of the movement in this year’s first edition of the ranking with champions, the Teranga Lions of Senegal continuing their ascent, climbing to 18th on the log.

Belgium (1, unchanged) remained in pole position ahead of Brazil (2, unchanged) and France (3, unchanged) while Argentina took over the 4th spot from England which fell to 5th on the FIFA Ranking.

Italy (6, unchanged), Spain (7, unchanged), Portugal (8, unchanged), Denmark (9, unchanged) and the Netherlands (10, unchanged) completed the Top 10.

Aside from Senegal, the highest-ranked African nation in the standings, Cameroon (38, + 12), who finished third at AFCON, and runners-up Egypt (34, + 11) had made the most significant moves within the Top 50.

Other notable movers were Canada (33, + 7) – a new high for the Canucks – and Costa Rica (42, + 7), with both enjoying strong performances during Qatar 2022 qualifiers in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) zone.

However, the biggest jump of all this month was by Gambia (125, + 25), the Scorpions ascending 25 places courtesy of their run to the quarter-finals at the African Cup tourney. Equatorial Guinea, who also reached the last eight at the tournament, climb 15 places and are now in the Top 100.

Other notable rises were those of Malawi (119, + 10) and Gabon (82, + 7). For their part, Mali (48, + 5) made more modest gains but nonetheless broke into the Top 50.

With eight of its teams now in the Top 50 (up 1 this edition), Confederation of African Football (CAF) has consolidated its third place in terms of confederation ranking, to the detriment of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) (4 teams in the Top 50, a fall of 1).

The other confederations have the same number of representatives as in the December 2021 Ranking: 26 for Union of European Football Association (UEFA), 8 for South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), 4 for CONCACAF and none for Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on March 31, 2022.