Nigeria’s 3-2 away victory over Sierra Leone in the AFCON qualifiers may have rubbed off positively on the fortunes of the team as the coach Jose Peseiro-tutored leapt a step up in the latest FIFA Ranking to 39th in the world.
The Super Eagles remain the sixth-best team in Africa as Qatar 2022 World Cup semi-finalist Morocco held on to the zenith in Africa as the continent’s best-rated team in the world occupying 13th place in the latest FIFA Ranking.
African champions Senegal are second in Africa and 18th in the world while Tunisia (31), Algeria (33) and Egypt (34) are third, fourth and fifth respectively in Africa.
Meanwhile, Argentina are settling into their new role as world leaders. Nearly three months on from regaining top spot in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, La Albiceleste remain out front thanks to friendly wins over Australia and Indonesia.
The top three is also unchanged, with the reigning world champions staying ahead of France (2nd) and Brazil (3rd ).
There has been movement behind them. England (4th, plus 1) and Belgium (5th, minus 1) swap places, as do Croatia (6th, plus 1) and Netherlands (7th, minus 1). Newly crowned CONCACAF Nations League champions USA (11th, plus 2) close in on the Top 10, whereas Spain (10th) manage to remain thanks to their UEFA Nations League triumph.
There have been some major moves further down the Ranking. While Wales (35th, minus 9) and Côte d’Ivoire (51st, minus 6) dropped places, Ukraine (24th, plus 6), Scotland (30th, plus 6) and Armenia (90th, plus 7) all moved in the opposite direction. Slovakia (46th, plus 5), Greece (49th, plus 3) and Mali (50th, plus 3) are back in the Top 50, while Mauritania (99th, plus 6) and India (100th, plus 1) both return to the Top 100.
