Nigeria slumps further in FIFA ratings

NIGERIA moved further down the ranking of world football body, FIFA, following the unfortunate crash from the 2012 Africa Nations Cup in Gabon and Equitorial Guinea.The October ranking of nations, released by FIFA yesterday, placed Nigeria as the world's 44th team, a step downward from last month's 43rd placing.It could have been worse for the country which threw away a golden chance to improve its ranking through the slimmest of goal margin victory over Guinea's Sylli Nationale on October 8 in Abuja during a decisive game and join the elite of African football at the Nations Cup next year.The game ended 2-2 as Guinea picked the sole Group Two ticket on 14 points while Nigeria's 11 points were not enough to earn a place even among the best losers of respective groups of the qualifiers.Despite dropping a place down, Ivory Coast remains the best team in Africa as world's 19th placed nation, a dividend of an impeccable campaign at the Nations Cup qualification games where the Elephants gathered the maximum 18 points in Group H.African champion, Egypt is on 29, Ghana 33, Algeria 35, Senegal 42 and Cameroun, another surprise Nations Cup flop, is on 47.World and European champion, Spain remains the top nation on the ranking as Brazil has cause to celebrate jumping two places to rank the fifth best in the world.
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