Nigeria climbed one place up in the latest FIFA ranking released yesterday by the Federation of International Football Federation (FIFA), Completesportsnigeria.com can report.
The Super Eagles, dethroned as African champions this year, were ranked 42nd in February but having garnered 701 points following their previous 664 point so ensured a slight improvement in the ratings of the FIFA member nations.
Nigeria, still without a substantive coach, albeit Stephen Keshi is expected to be offered a new deal by the Nigeria Football Federation, is ranked as the 7th best national team in Africa behind Algeria, Cote d Ivoire, Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal and Cape Verde. Guinea, Congo DR and Cameroon make up the Top 10 teams on the African continent.
Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Congo, Gabon, South Africa, Egypt, Zambia, Rwanda, Burkina Faso and Uganda are the 11 to 20th best sides in Africa in that order.
The biggest climbers of the month are Barbados (131st) and Bermuda (169th), both of whom have risen by 11 places by virtue of a win and a draw each in their friendlies in the Caribbean.
Israel had the biggest move by points garnered as they rose by 75 points, while Lebanon had the biggest drop by points and ranks with 90 points and 11 ranks respectively.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 9 April 2015.
Nigeria are expected to play Bolivia and South Africa in two international friendlies in March 2015.