Connect with us

Sports

Super Eagles move up 14 spots on latest FIFA ranking

Africa Cup of Nations Runners-up, Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up by 14 spots to be placed 28th in the world in the February FIFA ranking.

In the ranking table published on the website of the world football governing body on Thursday, the team garnered 1,522 points as against the 1,474 points garnered in December 2023.

The upward movement further shoot up the Super Eagles as the third-placed team on the continent,  behind Morocco and Senegal who have 1663 (12th) and 1620 (17th) points.

However, the newly-crowned African champions Cote d’Ivoire, reaped the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil by being in 39th place having moved up by 10 spots.

AFCON second runners-up, South Africa climbed 8 spots to 58th, with Egypt (36th), Cameroon (51st) & Ghana (67th) dropping down after their early AFCON 2023 exits.

The Angolan side who were ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), are the biggest climbers in the latest installment of the global ranking.

In the points stakes, two-time Asian Cup winners Qatar (37th, up 21) chalk up the biggest tally (92.04 points) after capitalising on home comforts to successfully defend their continental crown.

Elsewhere, Jordan (70th, up 17), who were edged out in the final, make good ground, as do Thailand (101st, up 12), whose journey came to an end at the last-16 stage.

Qatar’s rise sees them enter uncharted territory, with two other teams also recording best-ever rankings.

Senegal (17th, up 3), which suffered shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of the eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire in the AFCON Round of 16, break new ground.

Tajikistan (99th, up 7) mark their maiden Asian Cup campaign by making a first-ever appearance in the top 100.

Other impressive performers are Equatorial Guinea (79th, up 9), South Africa (58th, up 8), Cabo Verde (65th, up 8), Namibia (107th, up 8) and Mali (47th, up 4).

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Napoli reject €65m Galatasaray’s permanent deal for Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen

Italian club, Napoli has rejected Galatasaray’s €65 million bid for a permanent transfer of Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen.

Osihmen joined the Turkish club on loan for a season last September after the last-minute attempt to join Chelsea in the Premier League failed.

According to Italian sports news outlet, Corriere dello Sport, Napoli rejected the €65 million offer and wanted the release clause of €75 million.

While the newspaper pointed out that Galatasaray wanted to keep Osimhen in the team, it was noted that Napoli did not want a discount and demanded the full release fee.

It was further reported that Galatasaray could complete the transfer for 75 million euros for the Nigerian, who was on the radar of many teams in Europe in the interim transfer, while other clubs had to pay a compensation of six million euros in addition to the release fee.

Osimhen’s release clause was initially set at €130m but was reduced last summer when he signed a new deal with Napoli before joining Galatasaray.

The Nigeria international has been in top form for the Turkish leaders, netting 16 goals and providing five assists in 20 appearances since his loan move.

Continue Reading

Sports

CAF postpones CHAN 2024, draw to hold Wednesday

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, on Tuesday announced it has postponed the date for the 2024 African Nations Championship, CHAN.

The biennial competition was earlier expected to run from February 1 to February 28, 2025.

The tournament will now take place in August but the exact date will be announced by CAF in due course.

CAF took the decision to ensure that infrastructure and facilities are at the levels necessary for hosting a successful tournament.

The draw for the competition will hold at Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday.

CHAN 2024 will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Senegal are the defending champions of the competition

Continue Reading

Sports

Chelle promises to work towards qualifying the Super Eagles to the 2026 World Cup

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle has vowed to do his best to ensure the team qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Chelle was unveiled at an elaborate ceremony at the media conference room of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on Monday.

The 47-year-old signed a two-year contract with the option of another year.

“I want to thank my agent, the NFF, the NSC and indeed all Nigerians for this big opportunity.

“Coaching the Super Eagles of Nigeria is an amazing job; I do not take this appointment for granted. I am elated and will do my utmost best.

“Football is about scoring goals, so I favour an attacking style. I know the expectations of Nigerians and I will settle down and work diligently with my assistants towards the goal of qualifying the Super Eagles to the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” the former Mali international was quoted by thenff.com

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending