Peter Otutu
Abuja: Nigeria is now ranked 38th globally in the latest FIFA ranking released on Wednesday by the world governing body of football.
Nigeria climbed in the table but still trails Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and Algeria, who remain Africa’s top five teams in the latest ranking.
Spain kept their hold on top spot in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, with Argentina, France and England staying close behind them.
The ranking shifted after a busy international window that ended UEFA and CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers and settled the final CAF and AFC play-off fixtures.
FIFA said the new table will guide the draws for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament and the European Play-Off scheduled for Thursday in Zurich.
Brazil was the biggest mover in the top ten, rising two places to fifth and pushing Portugal and the Netherlands down to sixth and seventh.
FIFA confirmed that 149 matches, including 79 friendly games, were played since the previous update, prompting the latest shifts in the global ranking.