Posts
Nigeria plummeted four places in the new Fifa
World Ranking to 37th and now 6th in the
Confederation of African Football (Caf) zone,
following a sluggish start in qualifying
matches for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
(Afcon).
The 3-2 defeat by Congo in Calabar and last
week’s dour stalemate against South Africa in
Cape Town, means the 2013 Afcon winner
dropped 31 points and have fallen out of the Top
5 teams in the continent.
Congo, who top Group A of the 2015 Afcon
qualifier with maximum points after two rounds
of matches, were one of the three teams to reach
their highest-ever positions on the world football
performance table released on September 18,
leaping 30 places to break into the Top 50 on the
48th spot. Others being Iceland (34th, up 12) and
Antigua-Barbuda (80th, up 69).
The pair of finalist at this year’s World Cup
Germany and Argentina have extended their
lead at the summit, but Colombia leapfrogged
Brazil 2014 third-placed team the Netherlands to
third, as Guus Hiddink’s men continue licking
the wound from their 2-1 defeat at the hands of
Czech Republic in their opening qualifying
match for UEFA EURO 2016. On that note, ‘Los
Cafeteros’ equaled their highest-ever position,
having previously achieved third in July and
August 2013.
After three wins in four matches- including a
win against World Cup participant Honduras-
in the qualifiers for the CONCACAF Gold Cup
2015, Guatemala are the most improved team
and have climbed 77 places to 57th in the table.
Algeria yet top Africa’s rating, as Senegal and
Ghana overtook the Super Eagles to 4th and 5th
respectively.
Caf Zone Top 10 ranking
20 1 Algeria
22 2 Côte d’Ivoire
31 3 Tunisia
33 4 Ghana
36 5 Senegal
37 6 Nigeria
41 7 Cape Verde Islands
42 8 Cameroon
48 9 Guinea
48 10 Burkina Faso
No comments