Nigeria Now 49th, 7th In Africa in FIFA new ranking system
Nigeria dropped one place from 48th position to 49th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking as a new ranking formula takes effect this month.
The Super Eagles look to have suffered the drop thanks to their recent showing at the World Cup played in Russia last month as they bombed out at the group phase.
Many expected Nigeria to excel at the World Cup thanks their impressive showing in the qualifiers and now there are already prediction by punters via bet9ja promotion code of a better future for the Super Eagles despite their dismal showing at the Mundial
The new formula for the ranking was approved by the FIFA Council in June after a lengthy period of testing.
"The formula ‘relies on adding/subtracting points won or lost for a game to/from the previous point totals rather than averaging game points over a given time period as it was in the previous version of the ranking of FIFA," according to a statement on FIFA’s official website.
‘The changes, of which there are several, include the fact that inactive teams now preserve their point totals, with no devaluation of older games.
"Points are dropped, however, from losing or drawing against weaker opposition, with the only exception to this rule matches in knockout rounds of major competitions such as the FIFA World Cup."
The Super Eagles who recorded one win and lost two games at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, retain their position as the seventh best team in Africa.
The Super Eagles amassed 1410 points to finish 49th in the month of August.
Seychelles whom Nigeria face in an African Nations Cup qualifier next month are placed 188th in the ranking released by FIFA on Thursday.
Reigning World Champions, France moved up six places to reclaim pole position for the first time in over 16 years, a spot they last held in May 2002.
Russia 2018 semi-finalists Belgium are second Brazil in third, while World Cup runners-up Croatia are fourth and Uruguay fifth.
England occupy sixth place while Portugal are seventh, Switzerland dropped two places to eight while Spain moved up one place to ninth position, with Denmark also tied on ninth place but with an inferior point difference.
Tunisia is world’s number 24, and Africa’s No.1. They are followed by Senegal, Congo Dr, Ghana, Morocco, Cameroon and Nigeria in seventh place.
Egypt had a worse fall. Mohamed Salah’s Egypt dropped from 45th to 65th.
The Pharaohs failed to win a game in the World Cup, falling 3-1 to Saudi Arabia in the last match.
Egypt’s fall is the biggest drop down is the biggest drop by any football team in the history of rankings.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 20 September 2018.
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