Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
Despite a final defeat at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria has gotten a consolation in the latest FIFA ranking as it moved up 14 places to 28th in the world and third in Africa.
The data released on Thursday showed that there were no changes in the top 10 rankings as Argentina retained the top position following their Qatar 2022 World Cup triumph followed by silver medallists, France and Gareth Southgate-led England remained in second and third, respectively.
Belgium (4th), Brazil (5th), Netherlands (6th), Portugal (7th), Spain (8th), Italy (9th), and Croatia (10th) saw no movement.
Countries like Nigeria (previously 32nd) under the Confederations of African Football (CAF) as well as nations under the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) were the main movers and shakers due to the just concluded continental tournaments.
Across the two continents, no fewer than six teams have scaled 10 places or more, with Côte d’Ivoire and Qatar among the big climbers.
Côte d’Ivoire moved up 10 spots to 39th in the ranking. Angola, which lost to Nigeria in the AFCON quarter-finals jumped 24 places to 93rd and Qatar, which defended its Asian Cup, made some of the biggest strides.
Jordan (70th, up 17), who were edged out in the Asian Cup final, make good ground, as do Thailand (101st, up 12), whose journey came to an end at the last 16-stage.
Senegal (17th, up 3), who suffered a shoot-out heartbreak in the hands of the eventual winner, Cote d’Ivoire, in the AFCON round of 16, broke new ground, while Tajikistan (99th, up 7) marked their maiden Asian Cup campaign by making a first-ever appearance in the top 100.
Other impressive performers are Equatorial Guinea (79th, up 9), South Africa (58th, up 8), Cabo Verde (65th, up 8), Namibia (107th, up 8) and Mali (47th, up 4).
The next edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking will be published on April 4.
