Nigeria have dropped six places in the latest FIFA Ranking despite impressive results in 2018 World Cup qualifiers earlier this month.
The Super Eagles were ranked 38th in the World when the last rankings were released last month but drop six places to 44th in the world while moving up from 6th to 5th in Africa.
Meanwhile, world champions, Germany are back as the number one ranked football country in the world, ousting South America giants, Brazil in the latest FIFA World Rankings.
The return of the Germans to the top of the rankings comes after an impressive showing in the last rounds of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, when they dispatched Czech Republic and Norway to be on the brink of qualification.
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Nigeria swapped places with Cameroon, the reigning African champions who dropped ten places to 45th in the world after failing to win any of their double header qualifiers against the Super Eagles.
Cape Verde Island were expectedly the biggest movers in the world after defeating South Africa home and away in the qualifiers. They climbed 47 places from 114th in the to 67th on the global rankings.
Egypt remains Africa’s best ranked nation despite dropping five places from 25th to 30th in the World. Tunisia are next in 31st, the only team that moved up in Africa’s present Top 9 ranked teams while Senegal are 3rd in Africa and 33rd in the world.
On the European side, the Die Mannschaft aren’t the only ones who improved their position, as the Red Devils of Belgium also moved five places into the five, after securing their place at next year’s world cup in brilliant fashion.
Also, European champions, Portugal moved three places to third.
In terms of the highest movers, that goes to Cape Verde, who moved 47 places to 67th in the world.
Italy lead the group of those who fell on the rankings, after the Azzurri fell five places to 17th, from 12th, with Peru, Wales, Uruguay, England and Mexico all above the Italians now.
It’s Italy’s worst position since 2015, when they also dropped to 17th in the world.
Meanwhile, Guatemala fell 31 places to 131st in the world, the biggest drop by any country.
The next FIFA Rankings will be released on October 16.
Top ten in Africa
1. Egypt (30)
2. Tunisia (31)
3. Senegal (33)
4. Congo DR (42)
5. Nigeria (44)
6. Cameroon (45)
7. Burkina Faso (49)
8. Ghana (52)
9. Coted’voire (54)
10. Morocco (56)
Top 10 FIFA ranked European countries:
1. Germany
2. Brazil
3. Portugal
4. Argentina
5. Belgium
6. Poland
7. Switzerland
8. France
9. Chile
10. Colombia
Izuchukwu Awakor contributed to this report.
