By Victor Kanayo
After Nigeria’s Super Eagles failed to make it to the just concluded FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the country have dropped three places in the latest FIFA ranking due to be officially released on Thursday December 22, 2022.
The drop by Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation was equally fueled by their inability to win any of the friendlies against Portugal and Costa Rica.
In the ranking, Nigeria dropped from 32nd to 35th on the ranking and is ranked lower than Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Cameroon in Africa.
Morocco is the biggest mover in Africa following its incredible run to the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup.
The Atlas Lions moved up 11 places to be ranked the 11th best team in the world just one shy of the 10th place ranking they enjoyed from 1997 to 1999. They enjoyed similar 11 places move as Australia that pulled through to the round of 16 at the 2022 mundial. Australia are now in the 27th position on the ranking.
Joining Morocco in the top 20 is Senegal, that saw its participation at the FIFA World Cup tournament cut short by England in the round of 16.
The African Champions will have little or no complaints about their 19th place owing to the team’s performance in Qatar without the talismanic Sadio Mane.
Cameroon also moved 10 places, thanks to their victory against Brazil in the final group stage and is now ranked 33rd in the world, with Tunisia finishing just above them in 30th position.
Globally, Argentina will not take over at the top of FIFA’s World Ranking this month, despite defeating France to win the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
South American rivals Brazil have held the No. 1 position since February, when they deposed Belgium at the summit. But even though the Selecao failed to make it past the quarterfinals, Argentina’s results haven’t been enough to overtaken them.
Brazil won three games at the World Cup, lost to Cameroon and suffered a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Croatia.
Argentina, meanwhile, won four games, lost one to Saudi Arabia and were twice victorious on penalties — including the final on Sunday as they beat France 4-2 on spot kicks.
Argentina and France both move up one place into second and third respectively, while Belgium slide down two places to fourth after failing to make it beyond the group stage. England stay in fifth, with fellow quarterfinalists Netherlands up two places into sixth.
Croatia’s run to a third-place finish at the World Cup sees them as the biggest climbers into the top 10, up five places from 12th. Italy, who failed to make it to Qatar, drop two spots to eighth. Portugal are unchanged in ninth, with Spain down three places to 10th.
The United States takes over as the top-ranking CONCACAF team, up three places into 13th as Mexico falls two into 15th.
Canada and Qatar are the biggest fallers, both dropping 12 places into 53rd and 62nd respectively. Wales slump nine spots into 28th; Denmark are down eight into 18th and Serbia drop eight to 29th.
