BREAKING: Nigeria drop to 38th, Argentina maintain top spot in FIFA rankings

admin_secure June 20, 2024 0 Comments

In the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday, Nigeria has fallen to the 38th position.

The Super Eagles now have 1498.93 points, a decrease from their previous 1520.27 points.

This drop marks a significant shift in the global football landscape, as Nigeria continues to face challenges on the international stage.

Formerly ranked 30th in March, Nigeria’s decline follows its performance in the two matches after the African Cup of Nations, where they emerged as runners-up after losing 2-1 to the host nation.

In their recent games, the Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic in a match played in Ivory Coast.

Nigeria’s hopes for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers remain doubtful, as the nation failed to secure victories in these crucial matches.

Meanwhile, Argentina maintained its top position in the rankings, solidifying its status as the leading football nation in the world.

FULL LIST: Top 20 African teams in latest FIFA ranking

Super Eagles move 14 places up, now 28th in FIFA ranking

The South American giants gained 2.14 points, bringing their total to 1860.14, reflecting their consistent high-level performance in recent tournaments.

The FIFA rankings, reported by PUNCH Online, are calculated using the Elo model, which considers team strength, match importance, and results.

Liberia remain the biggest climber in the rankings, moving up 10 positions to a new highest rank of 142nd.

Liberia also scored the most points, gaining 37.47 points.

Equatorial Guinea experienced the biggest drop, falling 10 positions and losing 47.53 points, marking a significant downturn in their ranking.

Details later

(PUNCH)