Nigeria is starting 2014 as the 41st ranked country in the world as it dropped four spots in the January rankings by FIFA.
The rankings table on the world governing body’s website on Thursday showed that Nigeria still has 710 points like it did in the last two rankings.
Nigeria ranked 37th and the fourth in Africa with 710 points in the December ranking.
With the latest ranking, Nigeria has now dropped to seventh in Africa while Egypt has the highest climbing of 10 spots and Mali moved up by five spots.
Nigeria now placed behind Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Algeria, Egypt, Cape Verde Islands and Mali who has 912, 851, 792, 748, 726 and 703 points respectively.
On the global scene, the top 25 remained unchanged as Spain maintained first spot, ahead of Germany, Argentina and Colombia, who also maintained the second, third and fourth spots, respectively.
According to FIFA, only 18 friendlies have been included since December’s edition, five of which took place in 2013, with the remaining 13 in the first half of January 2014.
It said more movement is to be expected in the February edition of the FIFA ranking, which will take into account results from the 16-team CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The CHAN tournament which is exclusive for players based in their home countries is underway in South Africa and it is holding from Jan. 11 to Feb.1
NAN reports that the next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings will be published on Feb. 13, 2014.