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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