The Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped by one spot in the FIFA World ranking for June to become the world’s 31st and fourth-placed team in Africa.
According to the ranking table published on FIFA’S website Thursday, the Jose Peseiro-tutored players garnered 1,504.7 points in the month under review.
On the continental level, they are placed fourth behind Senegal (18), Morocco (22) and Tunisia (30).
The Eagles played four matches in the month under review and they suffered two defeats in their international friendlies to Mexico (1-2) and Ecuador (0-1).
Read also: Super Eagles slip off two spots in FIFA’s rankings
They, however, recorded two victories over Sierra Leone (2-1) and lowly rated team, Sao Tome and Principe (10-0) in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
On the global scene, a total of 280 international fixtures took place within the period which had significant ramifications in the Ranking.
Of the 211 countries listed in the global standings, 177 experienced movements.
Three months after taking top spot in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking from Belgium (2nd,-), Brazil (1st, -) have widened the gap on their nearest pursuer.
Argentina (3rd, plus 1) take the last of the podium places at the expense of France (4th, minus 1), who have paid the price for four games without a win in the UEFA Nations League.
During the upcoming 2022 World Cup, the Qatari government has outlawed players and fans having sex outside of marriage and threatened that defaulters will be sentenced to seven years in prison.
In addition to having a strong “no drinking in public” regulation, public affection between men and women is also illegal in the predominantly Muslim country. Although the World Cup is a global celebration of football, the regulations in Qatar may be exceedingly stringent.
“Sex is not the order of the day, unless you come as a couple,” a police source was cited as saying in the British press.
“There will certainly be no one-night stands at this tournament. There will be no partying at all, really. Everyone has to keep a cool head, unless they want to risk going to jail. For the first time in the history of the World Cup, sex is banned. Fans need to be prepared.”
However, the authorities are concentrating on a message of openness spearheaded by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, who said recently: “We don’t prevent anyone from coming to Doha with different backgrounds, different beliefs, Qatar is a very welcoming country.
“We have millions of people who come to visit our country and the World Cup is a great opportunity for people from different parts of the world to come and discover our culture.”
