By Rasaq Oboirien
NIGERIA's Super Eagles superb form in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers could see her rise in the new FIFA Rankings for national teams that will be released on November 24, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.
The Eagles who have improved since the hiring of Franco-German, Gernor Rohr following the resignation of Sunday Oliseh have gone unbeaten in three matches.
Having beating Zambia's Chipolopolo on match day 1 in Ndola and securing another important victory against Africa's third best team, Algeria in Uyo to make two wins out of two, Nigeria who were ranked 60th in the World and 11th in the continent with 562points in October after climbing four spot, could now make the top 10.
Nigeria could leapfrog Cameroon and Mali who recorded draws against Zambia and Gabon on matchday 2 of the qualifiers.
Both teams who are above Nigeria on 58th and 59th, are yet to record a win in the World Cup campaign.
Nigeria, who gathered 28points to move to 60th could go higher going by FIFA's Ranking procedure-P = M x I x T x C.
Was the match won or drawn? (M), how important was the match (ranging from a friendly match to a FIFA World Cup™ match)? (I)How strong was the opposing team in terms of ranking position and the confederation to which they belong? (T and C)
These factors are brought together in the following formula to ascertain the total number of points (P).
As for the game against Algeria, Nigeria has got 3 points for the victory, 2.5points been a FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The other points will be determined by FIFA.
