Mixed reactions trail Eagles ranking by FIFA
THURSDAY, November 28, would remain a day of disappointment for most Nigerian football fans, especially those who had waited anxiously to see their darling Super Eagles move up in the current ranking of football playing nations in the world.
Those who expected Nigeria as defending champions of Africa to move up in the ranking of FIFA were utterly disappointed as instead of ascending, the Super Eagles slipped to 36th from the 33rd position in the month of October.
Surprisingly, the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire have retained the number one spot on the continent just as the Black Stars of Ghana and Algeria remained second and third respectively. Despite their recent achievements, the Super Eagles are still in the fourth position.
Nigerians are disappointed but for many fans such disappointment did not start on Thursday because immediately after the Super Eagles conquered the continent for their third AFCON title, they expected a corresponding upliftment in the country’s position in FIFA ranking.
Apart from winning the 2013 AFCON, the Super Eagles recently qualified for the 2014 World Cup in grand style. In less than twenty hours after the victory over the Waylas Antelopes of Ethiopia, the Eagles flew to London where they were held to a 2- 2 draw in a pulsating international friendly against four times world champions Italy.
That spectacular performance of the Super Eagles increased the expectations of Nigerians that their country will at least move up the log in the next ranking of nations by FIFA. It was therefore a moment of huge disappointment for such expectant Nigerians as their team dropped down the ladder while the Ethiopians who had lost both home and away to the Super Eagles in the 2014 World Cup final playoff moved up by two places.
This is the crux of the matter which has left most Nigerians more confused than ever before. So many questions are being asked as to what a nation needs to do in order move up in FIFA ranking. For some disturbed Nigerian football fans, there may be more to it than just winning matches.
The Super Eagles have proved clearly that the much needed rebirth in the team had taken place. The victory in South Africa did much to the confidence level of the African champions. Friendly matches played by the Eagles before and after the Nations Cup have indeed done so much good to the image of the Nigerian team.
It is against this background that the latest FIFA ranking has been sneezed at by most Nigerian football fans who have since taken turns to bare their minds on what they think of the ranking by the world football governing body.
Many have called on FIFA to give the Super Eagles their due recognition. For such people, there is no single justification in leaving Nigerian stagnant on the fourth position in Africa and also bringing the country from 33rd to the 36th position in the world.
Some have since dismissed the latest ranking by FIFA as balderdash which should not be taken seriously by anyone. Former Super Eagles player, Barnabas Imenger has said FIFA is not fair to Nigeria as far as its latest ranking is concerned.
He said having done so well in recent times, Nigeria deserves to move up the ladder. The Lobi Stars assistant coach therefore expressed serious reservations as to how FIFA keeps keeping Nigeria on the same spot.
“I read about Nigeria’s ranking by FIFA and I must say something is wrong somewhere. How can Nigeria slip down instead of moving up? We are the African champions and we have qualified for the World Cup. What else does FIFA want from the Eagles”, he asked rhetorically.
Another former international, Mutiu Adepoju said he is not disturbed about FIFA’s ranking of Nigeria. He maintained that his concern is for the Super Eagles to perform well in Brazil in 2014.
“The ranking is not an issue to me. I think we should be concerned with how the Super Eagles will play in Brazil in 2014. The issue of ranking should not be a distraction to anyone”.
On his part, former national team handler, Coach Ben Duamlong said the Super Eagles are blending and should be given more time to play together for the much desired understanding.
He also did not see any serious issue with the ranking of Nigeria by FIFA.
Former
NFA
Secretary General, Alhaji Sani Toro said although the ranking did not reflect the present performances of the Super Eagles, Nigeria should play more Grade A matches just as he explained that there are so many criteria that FIFA uses in ranking nations.
“What I can say is that the Super Eagles have improved but they have to play more Grade A matches. Such matches would make it easy for the real worth of the team to be better appreciated.
“As a matter of fact, FIFA’s criteria for ranking of nations are so many and so we should not look at few and begin to cry foul”, he