The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FIFA ranking

  • AFCON brilliance lifts Super Eagles to 26th in FIFA ranking

    AFCON brilliance lifts Super Eagles to 26th in FIFA ranking

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles have surged to 26th position in the latest FIFA World Ranking released on Monday, recording a remarkable 12-place jump.

    The Eagles climbed from 38th following an impressive outing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, where they finished third overall.

    Nigeria is now the third-best team in Africa, behind AFCON finalists Senegal, ranked 12th globally, and Morocco, placed eighth in the world.

    Algeria and Egypt, both eliminated by Nigeria at the tournament, occupy fourth and fifth positions respectively on the African ranking.

    Read Also: Full list of individual award winners at AFCON 2025

    The Eagles won six of their seven matches at AFCON, losing only to hosts Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals.

    They sealed third place with a 4-2 victory over Egypt in the playoff match on Saturday.

    Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Croatia make up the world’s top 10 teams.

    (NAN)

  • FIFA Ranking: Super Eagles move up by 3 spots, now world 36th

    FIFA Ranking: Super Eagles move up by 3 spots, now world 36th

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up by three spots to place world 36th in the October FIFA ranking.

    In the ranking table on the website of the world football governing body on Thursday, Nigeria garnered 1503.29 points within the period under review.

    The senior men’s national team defeated their Libyan counterparts in the first leg match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers by a lone goal on Oct. 11, in Uyo.

    The movement also reflected positively on the team’s continental position to be ranked fourth behind Morocco, Senegal and Egypt instead of the sixth spot they occupied in September.

    On the global scene, 32 qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026, 47 for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, 79 Nations League matches and 17 friendlies were played during the recent international window.

    This made October a particularly busy month of football and one that has led to a number of changes in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking.

    The top three teams are also bunching up, Argentina (1st) are still on top, but their lead over France (2nd) and Spain (3rd) has been cut. England (4th), Brazil (5th) and Belgium (6th) have all held onto their positions.

    Read Also: Al Abraq fiasco: Motsepe decries  Super Eagles shabby treatment

    Portugal (7th, up 1) and Italy (9th, up 1) are the only climbers within the top 10, which is completed by the Netherlands (8th, down 1) and Colombia (10th, down 1), with Germany (11th, up 2) now knocking on the door.

    Elsewhere, Algeria (37th, up 4), Peru (38th, up 5) and Greece (42nd, up 6) have all made moves worthy of note, and Cameroon (49th, up 4) have returned to the top 50.

    Other African teams to have made significant progress in the ranking include Equatorial Guinea (88th, up 6), Zimbabwe (117th, up 7)

    The Gambia (128th, up 7) and Botswana (140th, up 7), the last of whom, the Zebras, have posted the biggest jump overall in terms of points gained (up 38.30 points)

    (NAN) 

  • Peter Adesina:  banging in goals and loving it in Seychelles.

     

    Seychelles are 198 on current FIFA ranking and while some may argue it is the last place to consider playing professional football, former City of David ace Peter Adesina is not bothered about that.

    For the former Calabar Rovers player scoring goals and enjoying his game is the most important thing.

    The 28-year old midfielder who plies his trade with Seychellois champions, Cote d’Or, has netted 12 goals still counting but is not one to make noise about it.

    “I played in Nigeria for a long time notably in the second-tier (Nigerian National League) with City of David (COD) Club and Calabar Rovers. After a short stint in Benin, I was due to return to Nigeria until this opportunity to play in these beautiful islands came, and I grabbed the chance with both hands,” he reflected.

    Adesina recalls he needed some time to adapt with the climate especially upon arrival in 2017, but he managed to overcome. helping Cote d’Or to runner-up spot in the Seychellois top flight.

    Cote d’Or players celebrate after winning the President’s cup

    The following season, the club based in Praslin, the second biggest Island in Seychelles, moved a step further winning the national title championship, with the Nigerian netting 12 goals in all competitions.

    He had to fight for his place as one of the four foreigners at the club for the three slots per club according to the regulations of the Seychelles Premier League. Others foreigners in the club are Uganda’s Tonny Kizito and Jonah Randriamisaina of Madagscar. It is apparent that Adesina is enjoying his sujourn in Seychelles and appreciates the support he is getting from all and sundry.

    “It has been a privilege to get the chance to showcase my talent and I’m grateful for the club management and coaches as well as the other partners and the whole community of Praslin where the team is based for all the support. I will always strive to give my best for the club,” Adesina promised in a chat with CAFonline.

    Cote d’Or will take on Anse Reunion in continuation of the Seychelles First Division league on October 31

  • Nigeria drop two points in FIFA Ranking now 45, 3rd in Africa 

     

    With barely a week to the start of the Nations cup in Egypt Nigeria has moved two points down in the latest FIFA ranking released on Friday.

    Nigeria is occupying the 45th position in the world with 1433 points two points below her previous point of 1435 released in April.

    Belgium occupy the zenith with 1746 points followed by World cup winners France with 1718 points. Brazil, England, Portugal, World cup finalists Croatia, Spain, Uruguay, Switzerland and Denmark complete the top 10 football nations in the world.

    The highest ranked African country is Senegal at the 22nd position in the world with 1515 points retaining her position in the previous ranking. Tunisia occupy the 25th position with 1501 point.

    Other African countries in top 50 are Morocco at 47, Congo DR at 49 and Ghana at 50 with 1423, same position the former Gold Coast country occupied in the previous ranking.

    Senegal however retained her position as number one in Africa followed by Tunisia in the second position and Nigeria in the third position.

    Morocco, Congo DR,Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Burkina Faso and Mali complete the top 10 soccer nations in Africa. Nations cup hosts Egypt are 58 in the world and 8 in Africa.

    Nigeria’s opponents at the Nations cup Guinea, Burundi and Madagascar are 71st, 108 and 134 respectively.

    Eagles will take on Senegal in a Friendly at the weekend to draw the curtain on their preparation for the Nations cup.

    The team will open their campaign against Burundi on June 22nd, tackle Guinea on June 26 and round up the group stage with Madagascar on June 30.

  • Falcons Await Opponents Drop One Point in FIFA Ranking

     

    Super Falcons dropped a point in the latest FIFA ranking despite emerging champions at the just ended African women Nations cup in Accra Ghana.

    The ranking dished out Friday, indicate that the Coach Thomas Dennerby tutored side dropped from 38 in the world to 39th in the world but remained number one in the African continent.

    The two other African flag bearers to the 2019 World cup in France however moved slightly up the ladder but still remain below Nigeria.

    AFWON runners up Bayana Bayana moved up two places from 50 to 48 while Cameroon moved up three places from 49 in the world to 46 in the world.

    Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, Ghana and Cote d Ivoire  are the top five in Africa in that order while USA, Germany, France, England and Canada are the top five in the world in that order.

    Meanwhile the 24 countries that will do battle in France will know their opponents on Saturday.  African representatives are in pot 4 alongside Argentina Chile and Jamaica.

    Pot 3 has Korea Republic, China, Italy New Zealand, Scotland and Thailand.  Netherlands, Japan Sweden

    Brazil Spain and Norway make up Pot2 while Pot 1 has hosts France, USA, Germany, England, Canada and Australia.

    Only four countries have won the Women’s world cup since its inception in 1991, with USA having the highest wins of three times, 1991, 1999 and 2015.

    Germany won the title back to back in 2003 and 2007 while Norway and Japan won in 1995 and 2011 respectively.

    Falcons have been part of every edition posting their best performance in 1999 when they made to the Quarterfinals.

  • Nigeria retains 47th position in latest FIFA rankings

    Nigeria has retained her last month Coca Cola FIFA world ranking on 47th position and sixth in Africa in May.

    The rankings released on FIFA website on Thursday recorded few changes as the first 47 countries retained their previous positions.

    According to the rankings on the website, seven international ‘A’ matches, all friendlies, took place in the month and as a result there are few movers in the latest ranking.

    Read Also: ITTF Ranking: Omotayo becomes second highest ranked Nigerian

    Germany, Brazil and Belgium were on the top three positions, while Super Eagles world cup foes Argentina, Croatia and Iceland were on fifth, 18th and 22nd positions.

    Tunisia is 14th on the table, followed by Senegal on 28th and Congo DR the 38th.

    The next rankings would be released on June 7.

  • FIFA RANKING: Super Eagles still 52nd

    • Friendly foes, Poland up to sixth

    Nigeria remain in 52nd place in the latest FIFA Rankings released yesterday, but fellow World Cup finalists Poland, who the Super Eagles will battle later this month in a friendly, have shot to sixth place in the ratings.

    Most countries have not been in action in the past month which has led to very little movement in the global rankings by FIFA.

    Consequently, Nigeria stays seventh in Africa, behind Tunisia, Senegal, Congo DR, Morocco, Egypt, and Cameroun.

    However, Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup Group D opponents Argentina, Croatia, and Iceland are among the top 20 as they sit 4th, 15th and 18th in the updated rankings.

    The Super Eagles next two opponents Poland and Serbia are ranked 6th and 34th respectively.

    There were no changes in the top five. Germany tops the rankings, with Brazil, Portugal, and Belgium completing the best five teams in the world.

    The next FIFA Coca-Cola rankings will be released on April 12, 2018.

    Poland are now just a spot shy of their best-ever position in the rankings. The Eagles will face Serbia four days after they take on Poland on March 23. The Serbians remain in 34th spot.

     

  • FIFA ranking: Nigeria drops to 51

    FIFA ranking: Nigeria drops to 51

    Despite being the first African team to qualify without dropping a point to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Nigeria ’s fortune in global rating continue to plummet as the Super Eagles dropped down to 51 in the latest FIFA ranking.

    Being the end-of-the-year ranking released by the world football governing body yesterday, Nigeria now is the 6th lowest ranked team going to Russia 2018.

    Having slumped to 50th in the November ranking, the tree-time African champion is now the ninth ranked team in Africa.

    Super Eagles’ opponents in the 2018 World Cup are ranked ahead of Nigeria as Argentina occupies the fourth place, while Croatia and Iceland are rated 17th and 22nd respectively on the world ranking.

    Read also: England Confirms Wembley Friendly Against Nigeria

    In Africa, Senegal tops the ranking and they are followed by Tunisia, Egypt, Congo DRC and Morocco as the top five teams in the continent.

    At global level, World Cup champion, Germany sit atop the rating while Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and Belgium complete the top five teams ladder on the FIFA ranking. This showed tha the status quo remains intact from what it was in November 2017.

    The next FIFA World Ranking is expected to be made public on January 18, 2018.

  • Nigeria Drops in FIFA World Ranking After South Africa’s Defeat

    Nigeria Drops in FIFA World Ranking After South Africa’s Defeat

    Nigeria has dropped in the latest FIFA rankings released by the world football governing body on Thursday.

    Previously ranked 38th in the world, the Super Eagles and are now occupying the 39th position in the world, and down to sixth in Africa from the fourth position they occupied the previous month.

    This drop may not be unconnected to the 2-0 defeat suffered at the hands of South Africa last month in Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

    The South Africans on their part moved one step up from 65th to 64th spot in the world.

    Meanwhile, the Eagles’ next opponent in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Cameroon, also dropped four spots down and are now 36th in the world and fifth on the continent, despite featuring at the Confederations Cup.

    Another group opponent in the race for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Algeria, have climbed five spots to 48th in the world and eighth in Africa.

    While Zambia, the other team in Nigeria’s World Cup group, are also enjoying a surge – they have moved seven places up and they are now 92nd in the world and 24th in Africa.

    World champions and 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup winners German are back on top of the rankings after a two-year wait.

    Brazil and Argentina are 2nd and 3rd respectively with Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Chile, Colombia, France and Belgium making up the top ten teams in the world in that order.

    The next FIFA ratings will be released on August 10.

    Latest CAF ranking

    1. Egypt
    2. Senegal
    3. Congo DR
    4. Tunisia
    5. Cameroon
    6. Nigeria
    7. Burkina Faso
    8. Algeria
    9. Ghana
    10. Cote d’Ivoire

  • Nigeria rise to 64th in FIFA ranking

    Nigeria rise to 64th in FIFA ranking

    Nigeria moved three spots to 64th in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday, while 2018 World Cup rivals Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia slipped in the ratings.

    The country is now ranked 14th in Africa.

    The slim 1-0 victory over Tanzania earlier this month was responsible for the Super Eagles improved ranking, africanFootball.com reports.

    Zambia, who hosts Nigeria next month in final round of the qualifying series for the World Cup, is now 92nd in the world.

    Cameroon, who will also play Nigeria in the World Cup qualifiers, dropped five places to 59th in the world.

    Algeria slipped to 35th in the world and lost top spot in Africa to Cote d’Ivoire.