World Soccer governing body, FIFA have rated Nigeria 25th among all 32 participating countries at this year’s World Cup, as the Super Eagles’ lone victory against Iceland was enough to put them ahead of seven other teams.
However, the Eagles’ inability to go beyond the group stage, as was the case at Brazil 2014, means Nigeria has a lower ranking than it was four years ago, when they were eliminated in the round of 16 by France, who won this year’s competition for the second time in history.
According to records from FIFA’s statistics department, Nigeria’s ouster from Russia 2018, after losing 2-1 to Argentina during their last group match in Saint Petersburg means the team’s ranking at Brazil 2014 was much better.
Top of this year’s log are France, followed by runner-up Croatia and Belgium, with a 2-0 win over England in the third place match.
Hosts Russia placed fifth with Sweden, Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia followed in sixth, seventh and eighth as quarter finalists in this year’s tournament.
Switzerland, Japan, Mexico, Denmark followed, while 2010 champions, Spain, who were eliminated by Russia in the second round via penalty shootout placed 14th, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in 15th position and Argentina trailing behind in 16th.
Senegal are the first African team in 17th position after a painful elimination by Japan via the ‘Fair Play’ rule used to break the tie between both countries, while Tunisia are 19th.
Germany follow Korea in 22nd position and Iceland trail Nigeria in 26th, as Iran, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are in least of the 32 teams in descending order.
Cup winners, France were awarded $38m, runners-up Croatia get $28m, while Belgium and England were awarded $24m and $22m respectively.
All the quarter finalists were paid $16m each; teams that crashed out in the second round were awarded $12m each, while Nigeria and all others that failed to go beyond the group stage received $8m each for participation.
