Nigeria shoot up in FIFA rankings, now third in Africa

Category: Sports Published on Saturday, 21 November 2009 01:52 Written by - Hits: 806

More good news has come for Nigerian football in the wake of last weekend’s qualification for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, with the country gaining 85 points to sprint 10 places up in the latest Fifa World Rankings released yesterday.

Nigeria move up to 22 places in the world ranking, a position which takes them to third position in Africa.

Cameroon remains Africa’s top team, gaining three places to go just one place short of being in the Top Ten.

They are followed by Ivory Coast, who also moved up one place to 16 in the world.

Mozambique, whose 1-0 victory over Tunisia aided Nigeria’s World Cup hopes, amassed a massive 80 points and jumped 12 places to 72 in the world and 14th in Africa.

Ghana only gained 1 place and are 6th in Africa. Egypt saw salt added to their World Cup injury as they lost one place, moving down to 5th in Africa and 29th overall.

Their place was taken by Algeria.

At the top, Spain have overtaken Brazil to become the world’s top-ranked team. Holland, Italy and Portugal complete the world’s top 5.

Africa’s Top 20: (World ranking followed by Africa ranking)

11 - 1 Cameroon

16 - 2 Côte d’Ivoire

22 - 3 Nigeria

28 - 4 Algeria

29 - 5 Egypt

37 - 6 Ghana

47 - 7 Mali

48 - 8 Gabon

49 - 9 Burkina Faso

53 - 10 Tunisia

59 - 11 Benin

67 - 12 Morocco

70 - 13 Togo

72 - 14 Mozambique

75 - 15 Guinea

78 - 16 Uganda

86 - 17 South Africa

89 - 18 Senegal

90 - 19 Zambia

94 - 20 Angola