FIFA Ranking: Nigeria Rises From 44 To 34th After World Cup

It appears the second round berth that the Super Eagles of Nigeria achieved at the just concluded FIFA World Cup in Brazil is currently yielding positive results as they soared ten places up with 664 points from their last 44th position in June to 34th position in the July Monthly FIFA-Coca Cola World Ranking released Thursday morning by World football governing body, the Federation of International Football Federation, FIFA.With FIFA is yet to decide is what stand to take on the current impasse rocking the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF over what FIFA described as government interference in football, the reigning African champions still soared past Egypt into third place on the Confederation of African Football, CAF ratings, but are still behind Algeria and Ivory Coast who still occupy the top two positions. Egypt remained stationary in 36th position on the World level with 645 points.

With 872 points and a second reound berth at the World Cup in Brazil, Algeria moved two places down the ranking to 24th, Ivory Coast with 850 points also moved two places downwards from their 23rd position to 25th.

Of the five countries that represented the African continent at the World Cup, the Eagles and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are the only ones that advanced.
Cameroon, who had a torrid tournament that was riddled with scandals, surprisingly advanced three places from 56 to 53.
But the biggest losers on the continent is Cape Verde, whose lofty positioning in the past rankings was questioned by many.

Cape Verde dropped a massive 36 places and now occupy 15th place in Africa, and are 75 in the world.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Argentina, who were Nigerians group opponents at the World Cup had mixed fortunes on the ranking table.
Despite failing to go past the group stage Bosnia and Herzegovina moved two places up and they are now placed 19th in the World with 917 points. Iran on their part dropped six places and are now 49th with 563 points.

Meanwhile, four-time world champions Germany are reaping the rewards of their triumph at the World Cup . The World Cup final against Argentina was also a duel for the leading position in the world ranking – with Joachim Loew’s team coming out on top on both counts.
Germany lead the table for the first time in around 20 years, followed by Argentina and the Netherlands. The Oranje’s third-place finish at the World Cup has propelled them 12 positions up the table and back into the top ten. All of the teams that exited the World Cup in the quarter-finals have climbed up the ranking: Colombia (fourth, up four), Belgium (fifth, up six), France (tenth, up seven) and Costa Rica (16th, up 12 – the Ticos’ highest-ever ranking).