FIFA rankings: Babangida disappointed as Nigeria slips to sixth in Africa, 40th globally

FIFA rankings: Babangida disappointed as Nigeria slips to sixth in Africa, 40th globally

 

Nigeria’s senior male football team, the Super Eagles, dropped further in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday.

Former Super Eagles winger, Tijani Babangida has expressed disappointment with the team’s drop in the latest FIFA ranking.

The Super Eagles dropped from 35th to 40th position in the latest rankings released by FIFA .

Jose Peseiro’s side also dropped to sixth position in Africa.

Babangida was quoted as saying, “It’s really disappointing to see the Super Eagles go down in the ranking. It was as a result of the defeat to Guinea-Bissau and recent results”

“I strongly believe that the Super Eagles will bounce back from this setback. The team will fight back, I’m sure of that.

“We look forward to the next qualifiers and I’m sure they will win the games against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe.”

It will be recalled that Nigeria’s best ranking was in 1994 when the country was ranked 5th while its worst ranking was in 1999 when the Super Eagles were ranked 82 in the world.

Nigeria was Africa’s fifth-best team, trailing FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, African champions Senegal, Tunisia, and Cameroon. But in the latest rating, Egypt has overtaken Nigeria and climbed into fifth place. Cameroon dropped three spots, from fourth to eighth.

World champions Argentina moved to the summit, supplanting South American rivals, Brazil.

FIFA, in a release, said, “Six years after last topping the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, Argentina (1st, plus 1) are once again at the summit of world football.

“Recent friendly wins against Panama (2-0) and Curaçao (7-0) helped the world champions dethrone Brazil (3rd, minus 2), who paid a high price for defeat in their friendly against Morocco (2-1).”

The release also revealed that the Central African Republic have been the most improved side since the last ranking (122nd, plus 10).

The Super Eagles will have the chance to improve their ranking in June when they travel to Freetown to face Sierra Leone in a continuation of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.