Morocco Overtake Nigeria In December FIFA Ranking

Nigeria’s senior national team remains the 35th best football playing country in the world but move a step down to fifth-best on the continent

The Super Eagles have moved behind Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco in the ratings of the best African teams.

Still, they remain unmoved in the December’s ranking released by Fifa on Thursday morning.

Gernot Rohr's side began the year as the 31st best team globally and the third-best team in Africa behind Senegal and Tunisia.

But things have gone south since then- in a year hit harshly by the widespread coronavirus pandemic.

Nigeria played only four matches throughout the entire year, with the three-time African champions winning none and drawing three. 

The first game arrived in October, a friendly tie against Algeria in Austria, which Nigeria lost by a lone goal.

A boring 1-1 draw against Tunisia followed four days later, preceding two Afcon-qualifying matches in November versus Sierra Leone.

But, in games where they were the clear favourites, the Super Eagles failed to soar over the Leone Stars, surrendering a four-goal lead to draw 4-4 on home soil.

The team then went to Freetown to record another disappointing stalemate to end the year on a dull note.

This winless run has seen Nigeria overtaken by Algeria and Morocco as the year 2020 runs to an end.

Senegal are ranked first in the continent and 20th globally with 1558 points, while the Carthage Eagles are 26th in the world and second in Africa after amassing 1503 points.