By Rasaq Oboirien
NIGERIA'S Super Eagles ended the 2016 football calendar as the 51st best team in the World and 8th in Africa, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.
The Eagles who were joint placed with Burkina Faso in the 50th spot in last month's FIFA Rankings, dropped a spot with 616points.
According to FIFA Nigeria good World Cup qualifying form could count little in January and February world ranking as it could slide owing to the fact that the Gernot Rohr's led Super Eagles didn't qualify for next year's African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.
Meanwhile, Argentina will end the year on top of the world, leading the way in the final FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking of 2016 from neighbours Brazil in second.
La Albiceleste therefore take the ‘Team of the Year’ title from Belgium, who they overtook at the summit in April this year, and where they have stayed for the subsequent eight editions of the Ranking.
In all, the Argentinians won ten of their 15 games in 2016, losing three and drawing twice.
Edgardo Bauza’s side are the ninth-best mover of 2016, but the title ‘Mover of the Year’ – the side that gained the most Ranking points since December 2015 - goes to UEFA EURO 2016 finalists France. Les Bleus won 13 of their 17 games in 2016, drawing three, with their sole defeat their most significant for some years, in the continental finale after extra time against Portugal.
However, the next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on Thursday 12 January 2017.
