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Nigeria
slump in FIFA rankings
By GBOLAHAN
DADA
Thursday, July 2, 2009
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| •Photo:
Sun News Publishing |
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Nigeria's position in the comity of football playing nations
slumped yesterday as FIFA released the June edition of world
football standings in Zurich.
Nigeria, which maintained her 30th position on the ranking
list last two months, were brushed downwards to the 34th position,
while Cote d' Ivore took over leadership position as Africa's
best team from Cameroon.
FIFA Confederations Cup winners, Brazil regained top spot,
thus relegating European champions, Spain, to second place.
The South Americans last topped the ranking in August 2007,
a position, which they have achieved six times.
The Netherlands (third, down one), Italy (fourth, unchanged)
and Germany (fifth, down two) occupy the next three places,
but are some distance behind the leading duo. Russia (sixth,
up three) have overtaken England (seventh, down one) and Argentina
(eighth, down one), achieving their best position since August
1997 in the process.
Of the other countries that took part in the Confederations
Cup are finalists USA (12th, up two), and Egypt (38th, up
two).
Egypt’s improved position, despite their early exit
from the tournament, is due to their 1–0 victory over
world champions, Italy, which scored very highly in terms
of ranking points.
Meanwhile, disappointing performances by Iraq (94th, down
17) and New Zealand (100th, down 18) caused them to lose ground.
Algeria (47th, up 19) and Tunisia (49th, up two) have climbed
into the top 50 at the expense of Burkina Faso (51st, down
one) and Finland (52nd, down three).
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