Super Eagles progress on FIFA rankings despite AFCON miss

The Super Eagles of Nigeria climbed nine places into 41st position in the FIFA/Coca-Cola monthly rankings despite missing the action at the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

Nigeria finished at the 50th position in the last rankings released in January, and there were doubts that the Gernot Rohr men will retain their position since they won’t be playing at the CAF biennial championship.

Cameroon’s victory at the AFCON tournament helped them climb 29 places into 33rd position, while Egypt’s second-place finish secured them a place in the Top 25.

Mahrez’s Algeria dropped 11 places in the ranking, but remained in the top 50 teams of the word at the very position Nigeria advanced from.

Read Also: FIFA rankings: Eagles return to 50th in the world

The Pharaohs (23) are now the highest ranked African team, followed by Senegal (31), and third, Cameroon (33). Tunisia is fourth in 36th position, followed by Congo DR at 37th, while AFCON semi-finalists Burkina Faso on the 38th spot is sixth in Africa.

Nigeria remains in 7th position in the continent, followed by Ghana, who dropped to 54th in the last rankings but gained nine spots to finish 45th.

The 2017 AFCON defending champions, Ivory Coast, that failed to advance from the group stage dropped 13 places at 47th position are 9th in Africa; followed by Morocco who climbed nine places to 48. Hosts on the Nations Cup, Gabon, did finish at 87, after making a great move, climbing 21 places.

However, the composition of the top five teams remained unchanged for the February ranking. Argentina held unto their 1st position, Brazil remained 2nd, Germany, 3rd, Chile, 4th, and Belgium, 5th.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 9 March 2017.

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