Nigeria moved up 9 places in the World ranking to rise to 41st position globally while the nation maintained its 7th spot on the continent in the latest rating of team forms released today.
In total, 60 matches counted towards the latest ranking. The most significant changes for the February edition of the FIFA World Ranking arrive courtesy of matches played at the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) per FIFA.
Cameroon’s victory at the tournament helped them climb 29 places into 33rd position while Egypt’s silver-medal finish secured them a place in the Top 25.
The Pharaohs (23, plus 12) are now the highest ranked CAF team.
AFCON semi-finalists Burkina Faso (38, plus 15) and Ghana (45, plus 9) also enjoyed large gains while quarter- finalists Congo DR (37, plus 12), Morocco (48, plus 9) and hosts Gabon (87, plus 21) also have cause to celebrate.
Meanwhile, group E opponents of the Super Eagles’s in the 2019 Afcon qualifiers, South Africa (13), Libya (23) and Seychelles (51) all dropped in the ranking.
Bafana Bafana dropped 2 spots, Libya lost pace by 3 spots and little Indian Ocean Islands of Seychelles dropped by a spot in the ranking.
The next FIFA World Ranking will be published on 9 March 2017.
credit: footballlive