Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian football team, the Super Eagles, are now ranked 34th in the latest world ranking from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), dropping seven places from 27.
According to the latest FIFA rankings published on the world football governing body’s official website, the country is now placed on number five in Africa.
Senegal remains Africa’s top team and is now ranked 21st in the world after climbing three spots, followed by Tunisia who now occupies 28th on the global ranking, down two spots from their previous ranking.
Algeria climbed 12 places to 30th in the world and third in Africa, while Morocco climbed nine spots and are now 32nd in the world and fourth in Africa.
Belgium managed to retain their top spot despite being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the European Championship which concluded last month.
Brazil is the second-highest-ranking as it moved up one place to second swapping places with 2018 World Cup winners, France, which dropped to the third spot.
Meanwhile, the eventual winner of the Euro 2020 tournament, Italy, moved up two places with 102.61 points gained into the top 5, just behind runners-up England which remained in number 4.
Argentina (6, +2) reaped the benefits of a triumphant Copa America campaign, while the two Gold Cup finalists broke into the top 10.
Victorious in that tournament and winners of the Concacaf Nations League as well, United States (10, +10) climbed no fewer than 10 places, eight more than Mexico (9, +2), who, despite losing in the final of both competitions, now sit one spot above their continental rivals.
In addition, it is worth noting the impressive progress made by Gold Cup invitees Qatar (42, +16), who reached the semi-finals in the USA, thereby recording the largest climb of the month and equalling their highest-ever position in the ranking, which dates back to the first edition in 1993.
A handful of other teams that did not take part in regional tournaments, such as Sierra Leone (106, +8), Eswatini (146, +8), Puerto Rico (171, +7) and Mongolia (185, +7), still managed to gain ground courtesy of positive friendly results.
The next FIFA Men’s World Ranking will be published on September 16, 2021.
