Bunmi Ogunyale
Former African champions, the Super Eagles have claimed one spot in the latest World football governing body, FIFA monthly ranking.
With 1415 votes, the Nigerian side moved to the 48th spot on the log, just they trails Tunisia, Senegal, Congo DR and Morocco as the fifth best country on the continent.
Nigeria’s AFCON qualifiers Group opponents South Africa are ranked 73rd while Libya and Seychelles 99th and 189th respectively.
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The biggest leap in terms of points is in Africa, however, with Kenya (107th, up 5) clinching 22 points – 17.9 of which thanks to a 1-0 win over Ghana (51st, down 6) in CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. As a result of that defeat to Kenya, the Black Stars join Slovenia (61st, down 6), as the biggest fallers of the month.
Meanwhile, Belgium climbed to the top of the log alongside 2018 FIFA World Cup winners France, which means that the top spot is currently being shared for the first time in the table’s 25-year history.
A pair of wins for the Red Devils (1st, up 1), including their first in the UEFA Nations League over Iceland (36th, down 4), has brought them level with Les Bleus (1st, unchanged) on 1,729 points. The only other change in the top ten sees Denmark (10th, down 1) slip below Spain (9th, unchanged).