Nigeria has climbed nine places to 41st on the latest Fifa World Rankings released on Thursday.
The big jump by the Super Eagles despite a month of relative inactivity follows significant changes on the monthly rankings courtesy of matches played at the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon 2017).
It’s the highest Fifa ranking for the three-time African champions in over two years as they continue to surge up the table under German coach Gernot Rohr.
The Eagles are now placed seventh on the continent, behind Afcon silver medalists Egypt, Senegal, reigning African champions Cameroon, Tunisia, Congo DR and Burkina Faso.
The Indomitable Lions are the biggest movers on the continent as they climb twenty-nine places to 33rd, while The Pharaohs of Egypt move up twelve places to 23.
Algeria were big losers on the Fifa ranking, dropping eleven places to 50th, while Ghana climbed nine places to 45th.
The Eagles return to competitive action in the qualifiers for Afcon 2019 later this year, before the massive World Cup qualifier double-header against Cameroon in August.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina continues to sit atop the world rankings as the top five teams in the world remain unchanged.
Brazil is second, ahead of World Champions Germany, while Copa America holders Chile and former number one-ranked team Belgium complete the top five.
The next Fifa World Rankings will be published on 9 March 2017.
