By Monica Iheakam

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Nigeria has gained grounds by moving two places upwards after gaining four points in the latest ranking released by World football governing body FIFA.
By the new ranking,  Eagles are now ranked 38th in the world with 730 points as against the 40th position in the last ranking. The team is also rated fourth best in Africa behind Egypt, Senegal and AFCON 2016 champions, Cameroon.
Zambia, who Nigeria would host later in the year in the 2018 World Cup qualifier are ranked 98th in the world, gaining one place and having 334 points, while Algeria are joint 53rd in the world, gaining one spot.
Nigeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying opponents in Group E South Africa are 65th in the world with 547 points, having dropped down one spot but gained eight points.
Nigeria’s other 2019 AFCON foes ranked on Thursday are Libya who dropped two spots to 92nd in the world with 351 points and Seychelles who rose two places to 194th in the world with 57 points.
Thursday’s friendly opponents Togo are the 106th best side in the world now with 320 points gained.
The top ten in the world remained unchanged with Brazil,  Argentina, Germany,  Chile,  Colombia,  France,  Belgium,  Portugal, Switzerland and Spain at the top of the table.
The next FIFA ranking comes out on July 6, 2017.