FIFA Rankings: Nigeria now 4th in Africa

Nigeria are now 4th in Africa, according to the latest FIFA/Cocacola world ranking released today.

The Super Eagles, with 730 points  moved two places up to 38th position in the world. They will play the Hawks of Togo in an international friendly today in Paris gained.

Egypt, who are  20th in the world are Africa’s leaders.

They are followed by Senegal (27th in the world)  and Cameroon (32nd in the world).

Congo DR, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana  and Algeria, in descending order  complete Africa’s top ten footballing nations. Morocco are 11th, South Africa 12th, while Mali are 13th in the new ranking.

With just ten international friendlies taking place since the May edition, there is little surprise that most of the top ten remain unchanged, with Brazil, Argentina and another Confederations Cup contender Germany retaining their place as the top three. However, Poland (tenth, up one place) have managed to gatecrash the top ten for the first time in the Ranking’s history, with the side currently sitting top of Group E in the UEFA section of World Cup qualifying joining Spain on 1198 ranking points, meaning they share tenth spot.

Another pair of sides who share a space in the Ranking are United Kingdom neighbours Wales (13th) and England (13th, up one place) thanks to the Three Lions’ slight rise.

Along with Poland, three other sides who have impressed of late in their respective confederations in World Cup qualifying have reached their all-time high in the June edition, with Peru (15th, up two spots), Syria (77th, up three places) and Papua New Guinea (153rd, up three places), climbing to their loftiest position since the Ranking began almost a quarter-of-a-century ago.