Nigeria will end 2018 as Africa’s fourth best team and 44th overall in the monthly rankings by world soccer governing body, FIFA.
Despite an impressive 1,427 points over the past month, Nigeria’s global position is unchanged, while Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and DR Congo, in that order, complete Africa’s top five teams heading into 2019.
Footballive.ng can report further that Nigeria remain ranked 44th since October, as they remain static at their best position this year.
The Eagles’ lowest ratings were in February and March, when they were ranked 52nd in the world.
However, FIFA noted that the three-time African champions, who have already qualified for next year’s AFCON, have averaged a 39th place in the world since the world rankings were introduced in 1993, and Nigeria rose as high as fifth in June 1994..
Nigeria’s next opponents in a competitive match, Seychelles, occupy 189th position in the world, while the other group rivals in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, South Africa and Libya are placed 72nd and 104th respectively.
Africa’s complete top-10 has Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria, DR Congo, Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Burkina Faso and Mali.
Belgium retain their position as the top rated team in the world, while France are second followed by Brazil, Croatia and England.
France end 2018 behind leaders Belgium, who top the world champions by the finest of margins with just one point.
Brazil finish in third place after winning all of their games since the FIFA World Cup without conceding a single goal while runners-up, Croatia end 2018 fourth in the rankings, one above England in 5th.
Portugal appear in sixth spot, followed by Uruguay before Switzerland, Spain and Denmark complete the top 10.
Argentina end the year in 11th position, while Germany finish one of the worst years in their history in 16th place.
The latest rankings show few changes, however, having been impacted by just eight ‘A’ matches in a quiet month for international football.
The top 100 is almost entirely unaltered bar for a single-place swapping of positions between Oman (82nd, up 1) and Zambia (83rd, down 1).
