FIFA Rankings: ‘Our aim is to be in top 10 before 2018 World Cup’, NFF says

Following Super Eagles’ quantum leap in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola ranking of February, the Nigeria Football Federation has said it’s aim is to see the team ranked among the top 10 teams of the world before the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The national team climbed nine places into 41st position in the February rankings despite missing the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

And reacting to the recent leap the General Secretary of the Glass House, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said the target was to be number one in Africa and to make the top 10 in the world before the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“We are on the right track to being the best in Africa and may be number five in the world where we were after the 1994 World Cup in the USA, but we would be contented if we make the top 10. It is not an easy target, but I think we are capable,” said Sanusi.

Read Also: Super Eagles progress on FIFA rankings despite AFCON miss

“To realize our target, aside the World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifying games which the Super Eagles will be involved in, the federation will ensure that the team play top quality friendly games to improve on the ranking.”

Sanusi also expressed optimism that Nigeria has the wherewithal to progress ahead of Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia from their World Cup qualifiers Group B, adding that his optimism stemmed from the manner the new coach Gernot Rohr has been handling the Eagles’ games.

“We don’t fear Cameroon because they won the AFCON. We believe they are not better thnn us, and come August, we shall prove to them that we are more determined to go the World Cup after missing the AFCON in Gabon. We have to beat them in Uyo first and get a result in their home few days later,” Sanusi stated.

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