Despite failing to cross the second round of the Cameroun 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria still progressed in the recent Coca-Cola FIFA rankings released yesterday. New African champions, Senegal, maintained their number one position in the continent after winning their first CAF Africa Cup of Nations title last weekend.
In fact, the Lions of Teranga have climbed to 18th in this edition of the
FIFA/Coca-Cola world ranking, their highest ever position.
Unsurprisingly, the Cup of Nations generated most of the movement
seen in the year’s first edition of the ranking.
Aside from Senegal, the highest ranked African nation in the standings,
Cameroun (38, + 12), who finished third at the African Cup, and
runners-up Egypt (34, + 11) have made the most significant moves
within the Top 50. Other notable movers were Canada (33, + 7) and
Costa Rica (42, + 7), on the back of stellar performances during their
Qatar 2022 qualifiers in the CONCACAF zone.
Nigeria rose from 36th position in December to 32 in the latest ranking.
However, the biggest jump of all this month was by Gambia (125, + 25),
the Scorpions ascending 25 places courtesy of their run to the
quarterfinals at the African Cup. Equatorial Guinea, who also reached
the last eight at the tournament, climb 15 places and are now in the Top
100.
