TheCable

Super Eagles of Nigeria moved up a place in the latest FIFA ranking.

Despite not playing at the just-concluded Orange Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria moved from 43rd to 42nd position.

Nigeria played two friendly games in January – a 1-0 loss to Cote d’Ivoire and a 2-0 win over Yemen – in the United Arab Emirates.

AFCON champions, Cote d’Ivoire moved up eight places to 20th although Algeria remain Africa’s best-placed team in 18th.

The tournament host, Equatorial Guinea made it into the top 50 for the first time after a leap of 69 places that has now made them joint 49th with Congo.

Nations Cup runners-up Ghana moved up 12 places to 25th.

World champions Germany maintained their number one position ahead of Argentina, Colombia, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Africa’s top ten

1. Algeria
2. Cote d’Ivoire
3. Ghana
4. Tunisia
5. Cape Verde
6. Senegal
7. Nigeria
8. Guinea
9. Cameroon
10. Congo DR

World’s top ten

1. Germany
2. Argentina
3. Colombia
4. Belgium
5. Netherlands
6. Brazil
7. Portugal
8. France
9. Uruguay
10. Spain