The Super Eagles yesterday moved up just one step in the latest rankings released by the world football governing body, FIFA.
The Eagles who were formerly occupying the 34th spot are now ranked 33rd in the world while still maintaining her spot as the fourth best team in Africa.
Egypt remains the number one team in Africa and moved up from 11th to 10th place. Ghana ranked 17th and Cote d’Ivoire, 19th, are the other African countries rated above Nigeria.
No changes at the top
There were no changes at the top of the table as Spain maintained the number one position with Netherlands, Brazil, Germany and Argentina following respectively.
However, while most teams were engaged in international friendly matches yesterday and would be awarded points depending on the results achieved, Nigeria was sadly missing in action; a situation that may affect the country negatively in the year ending ranking that will be released next month.
Botched friendly
Nigeria had been scheduled to play a friendly with Iran yesterday but pulled out of the game on Monday citing injury problems plaguing key players.
This claim was faulted by football officials in Iran who are now currently locked in a battle for compensation for breach of contract by the Nigeria Football Federation.
The Director of International Committee of Iran Football Federation (IFF) Abbas Torabian said on Tuesday Nigeria is to pay compensation to Iran following cancellation of its friendly match against the country.
“We sent a letter to Nigerian Football Federation and claimed compensation after the match was cancelled unilaterally, they answered our letter swiftly,” he said.
Siasia’s Mandate
Aside other things expected from the new Super Eagles coach,
Samson Siasia, the improvement of the team’s rating on the world rankings will be paramount as the team was once ranked as high as number five in the world back in 1994.
Siasia who will fully take over the reins of power in the Super Eagles on December 1, has said he will need at least three years to rebuild the Super Eagles into a formidable force.
“It is going to take two, three years for us to assemble a formidable team,” he said.
“It should be a gradual process, trying to build a new team with the old and the new players. Gradually we will mix them up until we find the ones who we need. Actually the ones who would play the way we want them to play. That time I would come out and say publicly we have a team.
“But right now we just want to focus on how to rebuild the team. Yes, the Nigeria Football Federation could set targets, but if we want to be realistic, targets won’t be realistic, if you don’t have a good team,” he told Mtnfootball.comSource:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Sport/5643456-147/story.csp
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