Super Eagles drop in first FIFA ranking of 2021, Benin Republic rise

THE Super Eagles slipped one spot in the latest FIFA ranking released on Thursday, the first for the year.

The Nigerian team is ranked 36th in the world, down from No.35 in December 2020.

With not much international action between December and February, there was little movement in the ranking, Nigeria being one of only a handful of countries to move up or down.

The Super Eagles however remain on 1,474 ranking points, the same as they had back in December.

Benin Republic, one of the two teams Nigeria will face in March in 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, moved up one spot from 83rd to 82nd with their ranking points of 1,302 remaining intact.

Lesotho, the other March opponents for the Super Eagles, retained their 143rd slot with 1,072 points.

Nigeria dropped to fifth in Africa after being overtaken by Morocco, who won the recently held African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon, the only international tournament held so far in 2021.

While explaining the ranking, FIFA noted that a total of 43 full internationals (including one played in December 2020) were taken into account, with CHAN being the standout tournament where a total of 32 games took place. 

CHAN as well as the other 11 games played have been classified as friendlies, because only players competing in the national championships of the participating countries are eligible to take part in the CHAN.

Apart from Morocco who moved up two places to 33rd in the world, CHAN runners-up Mali also benefited from the tournament by gaining three places to reach 54th.