Super Eagles of Nigeria have slipped down the pecking order in the latest FIFA Coca Cola World Men's ranking, dropping to 38th in the standing following series of abysmal performances in recent months, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Liberia emerged as one of the highest climbers on the African continent while Qatar 2022 World Cup champions Argentina maintain their top spot on the rankings.
The Lone Stars soared ten spots to 142nd, the biggest climb in this update. Their impressive feat is even more remarkable considering they remain undefeated in 2024.
There has also been some shuffling behind the top three. Brazil climbs one spot to fourth, pushing England down to fifth. Portugal, Netherlands, and Spain maintain their positions in the top ten, while Croatia jumps one place to ninth, overtaking Italy at tenth.
The recent international matches, including World Cup qualifiers, have shaken things up. With 187 games played since the last ranking, it’s no surprise to see changes throughout the standings.
In the middle of the pack, several teams made impressive strides. Ghana, Honduras, Haiti, Curaçao, and Benin all climbed significantly.
Ghana’s jump of four spots to 64th is noteworthy, but Namibia steals the show with a remarkable nine-place surge to 97th.
The good news spreads even further down the rankings. Teams like Mozambique, Madagascar, North Korea, Sudan, Nicaragua, and even Gibraltar can celebrate improvements thanks to their recent strong performances.
By Olaleye Oluwadamilola