The Super Eagles
According to the May ranking, Nigeria which ocuppied the 60th position in the last ranking released last month is now placed 63rd in the world.
Shockingly, Sierra Leone rose two places above Nigeria, climbing to the 61st position for the first time in history to stay atop Nigeria.
South Africa was the biggest African risers in the FIFA rankings this month, edging up four places to 67th spot.
Ivory Coast remain top in Africa at 15th, with Ghana second highest (22nd).
DR Congo were the biggest fallers, dropping five places to 124th position.
The 1974 African champions are now rated below the likes of Benin, Central African Republic and Sao Tome and Principe.
Similarly, Nigeria – which have competed at four World Cups and won two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments – have now dropped below Sierra Leone in the rankings.
Sierra Leone, whose population of six million is dwarfed by Nigeria’s total in excess of 160m, have never travelled to a World Cup and have only ever competed at two Nations Cups – in 1994 and 1996, with Tunisia moving up to eight as Egypt dropped down the rankings.
World and European champions Spain still top the rankings.
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