Super Eagles have become the least-ranked team in their Brazil 2014 World Cup preliminary group with just 34 days to the start of the competition. The world football governing body, FIFA, on Thursday placed Nigeria 44th in its ranking table for the month of May. The African champions, though, moved up by one spot in the latest release.
Nigeria earned 631 points on the current ranking. The full analysis of the fresh table leaves Eagles as the least-ranked team among their Group F opponents – Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran. Nigeria were 45th in April and are now ranked 44th while Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran were placed 7th, 25th and 37th respectively in the new table. Argentina have 1178 points, while Bosnia-Herzegovina have 795 points and Iran have 715 points.
But despite being the least-ranked in the group, Nigeria are the only African country which moved up in May, leaving Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana and Cape Verde on the same spot they occupied in April. With the latest ranking, Nigeria still remained the sixth-placed team in Africa. The next table will be released on June 5 which will then determine the Eagles ranking going into the World Cup which kicks off June 12.
On the global scene, hosts Brazil displaced Colombia for the fourth position by climbing two spots to stay behind Spain, Germany and Portugal respectively.
This tightly packed quartet now has the European leading trio of Spain (1st, unchanged), Germany (2nd, unchanged) and Portugal (3rd, unchanged) firmly in its sights. The Spaniards have now held the top spot since September 2011. The biggest climb globally has been achieved by Mauritania (139th, up 13), thanks to two wins in CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
And as Nigerians continue to react over the 30-man provisional list released by Eagles coach Stephen Keshi, ex-Nigeria international Jonathan Akpoborie has questioned the decision to recall Joseph Yobo to the team and the non-inclusion of striker Ikechukwu Uche.
The outspoken ex-player told AfricanFootball.com he respects Keshi, but would question the criteria for inviting players to the national team.
He said, “I really respect Keshi from our time in the Eagles as players and also his achievements with the national team so far but there are some questionable decisions that need to be addressed.
“One is (Joseph) Yobo. I have watched Norwich City play for the last one month and Yobo has not played or been on the bench, so I really don’t understand on what ground he was invited. Ike Uche, on the other hand, is our best striker in Europe this season and he is not on the list.
“By the time one looks at the list, you ask if we really want to do well at the World Cup or just go and satisfy some people’s ego.”
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