FIFA rankings: Nigeria move ahead of Tunisia, Algeria as Senegal remain Africa’s No.1

The three-time African champions may have crashed out in the round of 16 of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, but it has not affected them negatively in the latest rankings released by FIFA 

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have moved up four places in the latest FIFA/Coca-cola monthly rankings released on Thursday morning.

The Super Eagles were ranked 36th in the December rankings but have now moved up to 32nd in the world despite their round of 16 exit at the just-concluded AFCON 2021.

The latest movement also means Nigeria are now the third-best team in Africa behind Morocco and the newly-crowned African champions, Senegal.

Austin Eguoavoen’s men were previously ranked behind Senegal, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, whom they lost to in the second round of AFCON 2019.

However, a woeful AFCON campaign means Les Fennecs dropped 14 places to 43rd in the world while Tunisia dropped from 30th to 36th.

Senegal’s Teranga Lions AFCON triumph sees them move up two places to 18th in the World while Morocco moved up four places to 24th.

Nigeria’s opponent in next month’s two-legged 2022 World Cup playoffs Ghana dropped nine places to 61st in the world after finishing bottom of their AFCON group.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils of Belgium are still the World number one ranked nation, followed by Brazil, France, Argentina and England.

European champions, Italy, are sixth while Spain, Portugal, Denmark and the Netherlands round up the rest of the top ten.