By Akinwale Kasali
The fortunes of the National male football team, the Super Eagles of Nigeria has kept dwindling after its failure to qualify for the upcoming FIFA World Cup slated for Qatar from November 21st to 18th November, 2022.
The Coach Jose Peseiro-led Team has dropped from its Olympian height on the FIFA ranking, languishing in the 32nd position after poor outings in the month of September.
In the latest rankings released by the world football governing body, FIFA, on Thursday October 6, the Super Eagles dropped to 32, losing 6.23 points after two poor matches against Algeria during the last international break.
Nigeria lost in Oran and drew 2-2 in the other game against the Desert Warriors home based team in Constantine, where Goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye’s howler gave the home- based Algerian team the lead, before Alex Iwobi and Cyril Dessers scored in the second half to give the West African side the lead.
Unfortunately, a late penalty for the Algerians salvaged a draw for the North Africans.
Despite dropping in the FIFA Rankings, Nigeria maintained its number four position in Africa.
Meanwhile, at the top of the ranking, five time champions Brazil remains the best football playing nation.
Brazil is top of the log after impressive outings against African giants, Ghana and Tunisia in September.
The Red Devils of Belgium remain second, with Brazil’s South American rivals, Argentina, in third position.
Former World Champions, France in fourth and England in fifth, complete the top five ranked nations.
In another development, the female National Team of Nigeria, the Super Falcons lost 2-0 to the Female Blue Samurai of Japan at the Noevir International Stadium, Kobe, in Japan in their International Warm Up encounter in preparation for the 2023 Women FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Two second-half goals by Japan’s Mina Tanaka condemned Nigeria’s Super Falcons to a 0-2 defeat.
A string of brilliant saves by first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie kept Nigeria in the game in the first half.
The Falcons almost took a surprise lead when defender Ashleigh Plumptre struck the woodwork from a free-kick.
Japan went on to score when Tanaka chested the ball from a free-kick and slammed past Nnadozie in the 65th minute.
Her second goal came three minutes later, from the penalty kick spot, after a harsh challenge from Osinachi Ohale on an advancing Japanese forward in the Nigeria area.
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