Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana Maintain FIFA World Ranking Spots
Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the Black Stars of Ghana are unmoved in the latest rankings released by the world football governing body, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).
According to FIFA’s December rankings released on Thursday, the trio Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana retained the same spots as at the last ratings.
With the month under review being a quiet period in international football activities, it is understandable why the threesome, alongside most African countries, stayed motionless in the latest rankings.
Boasting of 1478 points to their credit, three-time African champions, Super Eagles retain their fifth position in the continent and occupy the 36th spot globally.
For Bafana Bafana, who will be missing out on the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations billed for Cameroon, they 13th placed team in Africa and number 68 in the world.
Similarly, Milovan Rajevac’s Black Stars, who will be eyeing a fifth AFCON crown, currently sit in eighth place in Africa and 52nd in the world.
However, the Harambee Stars of Kenya that will not feature at the biennial African football showpiece nonetheless still maintain their 22nd spot in Africa and 102nd position universally.
On the top spot in Africa and 20th in the world are Terange Lions of Senegal with 1561 points, while Morocco’s Atlas Lions, who are also unmoved in the rankings, remain 28th globally and second in Africa after amassing 1529 points.
Interestingly, AFCON hosts, Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are 50th in the world, while reigning African champions and FIFA Arab Cup kings, Dessert Warriors of Algeria are ranked 30th globally and third in the continent.
For Africa Cup of Nations debutants Comoros, who lost 4-0 to Mohamed Salah’s Egypt on the last day of their AFCON qualification, they are rated number 38 in Africa and 132nd worldwide.
Making the most impressive progress among African teams are Equatorial Guinea (114th + 59.78 points compared to their December 2020 standing), while Saudi Arabia (51st + 81.71 points compared to December 2020 positioning) did the same in Asia.
Overall, Belgium is ending the calendar year in pole position for the fourth consecutive year, just ahead of Brazil (2nd) by 2.1 points, while 2018 FIFA World Cup champions France (3rd) complete the podium for 2021.
Canada, who occupy the 40th spot, are the year’s ‘Most Improved Side’ having picked up no fewer than 130.32 points over the last 12 months.
Their semi final finish at the 2021 Gold Cup as well as impressive results in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying have been major factors in their rise.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on February 10, 2022
