Again, Nigeria drop in latest FIFA ranking
Eagles can excel at 2018 World Cup, says lawmaker
The Super Eagles of Nigeria again dropped in the latest FIFA ranking released yesterday as they now occupy the 51st position in the world and 9th in Africa.
It is the second time Nigeria will be slipping down the charts in successive months, as last month’s ranking saw the Gernot Rohr led side drop to 50th place and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.
The team that was very impressive throughout World Cup qualifiers is now the 6th lowest ranked team going to the World Cup.
The Super Eagles were inactive since the last edition of the rankings but their past matches were added to FIFA formula’s calculations, and they have dropped one place to 51st in the world; the three-time African champions were ranked the ninth best team among CAF countries.
Elsewhere in the rankings, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Congo Democratic Republic and Morocco are the best five teams in Africa in that order.
Our World Cup rivals Argentina occupy the fourth position, Croatia and Iceland are 17th and 22nd respectively on the ladder.
2019 African Cup of Nations qualifying opponents South Africa, Libya and Seychelles sit in the 81st, 88th and 192nd place respectively in the updated ranking.
Germany maintained their top spot at the summit, with Brazil, Portugal The Super Eagles can excel at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the quality of players Nigeria has all over the world, a sports enthusiast, Stanley Osagie, has said.
Osagie, a lawmaker in the Edo House of Assembly, said in an interview in Abuja yesterday that Nigeria has the advantage of having many overseas-based players.
“The Super Eagles can shock the whole world in Russia next year. I am not scared of their opponents at all. and Belgium completing the top five teams.
On the global scene, Germany are first, followed by Brazil, Portugal,
“The team has all the players needed to excel, because of the kind of experience they have playing abroad,” he said.
The APC lawmaker who represents Edo South-East said there was no need to be scared of any threat the likes of Argentina, Croatia and Iceland could pose to the Eagles.
“They are countries like us. We have what they have, and even more than what they have.
“If we play well, we will go places in Russia. I am
Argentina and Belgium in the second, third, fourth and fifth places respectively, while
Spain, Poland, Switzerland, France confident about that,” he said.
Osagie noted that quality players abound in many parts of the country, and praised Greenbox Facilities Limited for organising a novelty match to expose hidden talents.
The Abuja-based company had on Saturday organised the match for its staff, with Team A beating Team B 4-1 after coming from a goal down.
Cephas Ishaku had in the 19th minute put Team B ahead, before Daniel Gabriel drew Team A level in the 35th minute. and Chile complete the top ten.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 18 January 2018.
Moses Ogbu put Team A in the lead in the 41st minute of the 70-minute game, and he extended the lead in the 54th minute.
Daudu Zaki put the game beyond their opponents with four minutes to go.
Osagie later described the match and its organisation as encouraging, saying it was a good show of what the youths can do.
“The players’ performance is exciting, and it is encouraging that we have such talents in the country.
“With their youthfulness, I believe they can go places,” he said.
The lawmaker who took the match’s ceremonial kick-off also praised the match’s organisers, Greenbox Facilities, for the initiative.
“If other private organisations can come up with this kind of initiative, Nigeria will be better for it.
“Greenbox Facilities has pointed the way forward, for us to see new talents and even help out the unemployed,” he said. (NAN)