By Rasaq Oboirien
SUPER Eagles superb form in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers has seen the coach Gernot Rohr team raise 10 places to 50th in the new FIFA Rankings released on Thursday in Zurich, Switzerland, 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.
Nigeria who were ranked 11th in Africa with 562points in October after climbing four spot, are now 8th with 616 points, thus toppled arch rivals, Ghana to 9th spot.
This raise is due to its back-to-back victories recorded in the World Cup qualifiers against Zambia in Ndola and Algeria in Uyo.
Senegal are the new continent best team after the Teranga Lions dethroned AFCON defending champions, Elephants of Ivory Coast to the top spot.
The Africa top 10 teams are (1) Senegal 755points, (2) Côte d'Ivoire 738points, (3) Tunisia 738points, (4) Egypt 719points, (5) Algeria 692 points, (6) Congo DR 638points, (7) Burkina Faso 616points, (8) Nigeria 616points, (9) Ghana 611points and Morocco 587points.
Argentina remain top for November, but have seen their command on the summit weakened by close rivals Brazil (2, up 1). After a good run of form in FIFA World Cup™ qualifying, A Seleção have surpassed Germany (3, down 1) and closed the distance to their South American neighbours, as the year-end approaches. Chile, meanwhile, climbed into fourth place.
December ranking will be the final ranking for 2016 and will reveal the winners for the Team of the Year (awarded to the team in first place by year’s end) and Mover of the Year (awarded to the team that has won the most points over the course of the year). The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 22 December 2016.
