Nigeria end 2014 Fifa ranking in 43rd place

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Nigeria end 2014 Fifa ranking in 43rd place

Nigeria’s senior national team has dropped a place to end 2014 as the 43rd best team in the world and ninth in Africa according to the latest Fifa world ranking released on Thursday.

Stephen Keshi’s men began the year on a shaky note as they dropped four places to 41st in the January no thanks to their 2-1 defeat to Mali in the African Nations Championship game, a tournament that has been upgraded to ranking status by Fifa.

In February, they continued their slow and steady fall as theydropped six places to 47th.
Super Eagles maintained the same position in March thanks to theirgoalless draw with Mexico in an international friendly.
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For the first time in the year, Nigeria moved up the ladder as they were rated 45th in the April standing.
This rise continued in May as they moved a spot upward to climb to the 44th spot in the world and sixth in Africa – a mark they held on to going into the Fifa World Cup Brazil and also in the June version of the grading.
Nigeria’s biggest progress came in July as they climbed ten places to 34th spot following their impressive showing at the Fifa World Cup despite their second round dismissal by France. In August, the African champions continued to mount northward as they were placed 33rd.
Things got worse in September as they crashed four places to 37th position in the world and declined five spots in October and maintained the same position in November 2014.
World champions Germany topped the final ranking of the year for the second time since 1993, while South American giants Argentina and Colombia finished in second and third place respectively.
Algeria ended 2014 as the best team in Africa followed by Tunisia and Cote d’Ivoire while the Black Stars of Ghana were adjudged they fifth best team in Africa and are also ranked 37th in the world.