The fortunes of two senior football teams in the country, Thursday, fluctuated as Nigeria’s Super Eagles dropped by one spot to 41st position in the new ranking formula FIFA, the World football governing body while the Falconets suffered 2-1 defeat to the Spanish team.
In the ranking table published on FIFA website, Nigeria garnered 613 points in August, placing it sixth on the continental stage behind Senegal, Congo DR, Ghana, Morocco and Cameroon.
On the global scene, France climbed to the summit of a much-changed FIFA/Coca-Cola World ranking in the first edition of the global ladder since the new ranking formula took effect.
From their sixth position, France have reclaimed pole position for the first time in over 16 years, returning to a spot they last held in May 2002.
Just three points, however, separate Les Bleus from Russia 2018 semi-finalists Belgium (2nd, up 1), while World Cup runners-up Croatia now 4th, up from 16th, have equaled their record ranking position, last reached in June 2013.
Other big movers include Uruguay (5th, up 9), England (6th, up 6), Sweden (13th, up 11), and World Cup hosts Russia (49th, up 21). Naturally, there are losses as well as gains, with previous leaders Germany (15th, down 14) among several sides to suffer for group-stage elimination in Russia.
Poland (18th, down 10), Peru (20th, down 9) and Costa Rica and Iceland (joint-32nd, down 9 and 10 respectively) also slipped down the table on the back of disappointing World Cup campaigns.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new formula, approved by the FIFA Council in June after a lengthy period of testing, relies on adding or subtracting points won or lost for a game to or from the previous point totals rather than averaging game points over a given time period as in the previous versions of the Ranking.
The changes, of which there are several, include the fact that inactive teams now preserve their point totals, with no devaluation of older games. Points are dropped, however, from losing or drawing against weaker opposition, with the only exception to this rule, matches in knockout rounds of major competitions such as the FIFA World Cup.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Falconets lost 1-2 to Spain in their quarterfinal encounter of the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup against played on Thursday, August 16.
The Falconets progressed to the quarterfinal after a draw, loss and win in their three group stage games while, Spain finished comfortably of their group after two wins and a draw.
The game started at a high pace with both sides creating chances until the Spanish side seized control of the encounter with their consistent penetrative passing of the ball from side to side working the Falconets up and down the pitch.
Spain eventually broke the deadlock in the encounter when Aitana Bonmatí Conca converted a penalty in the 13th minute.
Falconets star player Rasheedat Ajibade tried to make things happen but her shot was saved as Spain continued the possession based high pressure game.
Spain scored their second goal of the game just before the referee blew the whistle for the half time break through Patri Guijarro.
The Falconets tried to get into the game at the start of the second half, creating chances only to be stopped impressively by the Spanish.
They however got a lifeline when star midfielder Peace Efih pulled one goal back in the 57th minute.
