TheCable

Nigeria maintained the 43rd position in the world and ninth in Africa in latest FIFA ranking.

Algeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Ghana are the top five teams in Africa, but the Super Eagles are expected to experience a downward mobility in the next ranking due to their absence from the Africa Cup of Nations billed for Equatorial Guinea in January, 2015.

Nigeria will play two friendly games in January but points at major tournaments like the AFCON have a significant higher value.

There are a number of African teams going to Equatorial Guinea who are not far behind Nigeria on the ranking and a good showing at Africa’s flagship competition will see them overtake Nigeria on the log.

Mali at 49th, Zambia at 50th, South Africa at 52nd, the DR Congo at 57th, Congo at 61st, Gabon 62nd and Burkina Faso at 64th could take advantage of Super Eagles absence.

Globally, 2014 World Cup finalists – Germany and Argentina – have maintained their positions in the rankings, with Colombia, Belgium and Holland completing the top five countries in the world.

Top Ten African Teams

1) Algeria

2) Tunisia

3) Ivory Coast

4) Senegal

5) Ghana

6) Guinea

7) Cape Verde

8) Cameroon

9) Nigeria

10) Mali