ANDREW EKEJIUBA
Super Eagles of Nigeria climbed up to 26th position in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola football ranking released on Thursday, after six months.
FIFA released its first ranking after six months that the game was crippled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Super Eagles were ranked 31 in July but this September saw them soar with two points.
This is the first time they would break into the top 30 best football playing country since May 2013.
The Super Eagles team climbed two spots and are now ranked third in Africa.
Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria and Algeria, who all reached the semifinals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, are the top four teams in Africa in that order, followed by Morocco and Ghana.
International football is yet to resume in Africa after the outbreak of COVID-19.
According to the rankings released on FIFA website, the top world ranking also remain unchanged apart from Portugal that moved into the top five for the first time.
The Super Eagles next opponent, Ivory Coast rise one place to sit in 60th position and are ranked 12th in Africa.
Eagles’ three other rivals in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in the shape of Benin, Sierra Leone and Lesotho sit in the 84th, 119th and 139th positions, respectively, while World Cup qualifiers foes Cape Verde, Central African Republic and Liberia sit 78th, 110th and 152nd, respectively.
FIFA said, “After more than six months of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, international matches have finally recommenced.
“With the exception of Uzbekistan’s 2-1 friendly victory over Tajikistan, the countries back in action have all been European.
“The successful staging of these games was nonetheless encouraging for teams from other confederations as they seek to resume international fixtures in the weeks ahead.
“Meanwhile, the 54 UEFA Nations League games that took place across Europe at the beginning of September had an immediate impact on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, which had remained unchanged since 9 April.
“While there has been no movement among the leading quartet – in descending order: Belgium, France, Brazil and England – Portugal (5th, up 2) have moved into the top five, thanks to victories over Croatia (8th, down 2) and Sweden (18th, down 1).
“Other countries moving in the right direction are Spain (7th, up 1), Italy (12th, up 1), the Netherlands (13th, up 1), and Germany (14th, up 1), with each gaining one place in the global classification.
“Wales (21st, up 2) climbed two rungs but remain just outside the top 20.
“Russia, hosts of the last FIFA World Cup, are further back in 32nd but had the biggest gain in this edition, ascending six places courtesy of wins over Serbia (31st, down 2) and Hungary (52nd, unchanged).
“Despite not playing, Iran (30th, up 3) moved into the top 30 after Serbia and Turkey (32nd, down 3) dropped points.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on October 22, 2020.