By Akinwale Kasali
Despite losing 1-0 at home to minnows, Central African Republic at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria, the national football team, Super Eagles still managed to retain its 36th position in the world ranking.
Though, it avenged the loss in the reverse fixture at the Omnisport Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, with a 2-0 win over Central African Republic in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, but it failed to climb up the ladder, and remain stagnated in the 36th position for over three months.
World soccer governing body, Federation International Football Association, FIFA, released the ranking of teams, with no significant changes for the Top Five teams in Africa.
Coach Gernot Rohr’s Super Eagles accrued 1478 points to maintain its 36th spot globally.
For South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who completed the double over Ethiopia, they garnered 13 points to move up to 66th in the world but remain number 12 in Africa.
Ghana Black Stars also enjoyed convincing results, over Zimbabwe home and away to retain 52nd position in the world and seventh place in Africa.
The Harambee Stars will not be featuring at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, and their losses to Mali saw them crash to 104th in the world and 23rd on the continent.
Senegal – who already qualified for the play-off round of the World Cup – are ranked first in Africa with 1564 points, while Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles – who dropped one point – are now 27th globally and second in Africa after accruing 1525 points.
Overall, Belgium remains top despite losing the Uefa Nations League title to France. Among the top five, only Les Bleus and Italy have improved their positions.
Brazil are second but are breathing down the necks of Belgium, just 12 points behind. England, meanwhile, drop two places to fifth.
Some of the significant movers in October are Morocco (29th, +4), Russia (33rd, +4), Egypt (44th, +4), Saudi Arabia (49th, +7) and South Africa (66th, +7).
The next Fifa Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 25 November 2021.
