Nigeria has moved up four places to 32nd in the latest FIFA Ranking released on Thursday despite the early exit from the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.
Nigeria now ranks 3rd in Africa, behind Morocco being 2nd and AFCON 2021 winners, Senegal, ranked first.
Others behind Nigeria are Egypt, Tunisia, Cameroon, Algeria, Mali and the Ivory Coast.
The number one team in the world ranking remains Belgium followed by Brazil, France, Argentina, England, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and the Netherlands.
FIFA says the new ranking method named “SUM” 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 period as in the previous version of the World Ranking.
Although the current FIFA ranking may not have any immediate impact on World Cup qualifying, it will serve as a morale booster for Nigeria who are now 29 places above the Black Stars of Ghana.
