Three-time African champions, Super Eagles are ranked 36th in December’s FIFA ranking and will be seeded for World Cup play-offs
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria’s probability of meeting arch-rivals Ghana or AFCON host Cameroon increased, after they ended 2021 as the 36th best team in the world and 5th in Africa, according to December’s ranking released by FIFA on Thursday.
The three-time African champions are behind the highest ranked African side Senegal, who are 20th, Morocco who are 28th, Algeria who ended as 29th, and Tunisia who occupied the 30th position.
With the Super Eagles finishing among the top five African countries, they are guaranteed one of the seeded spots during the 2022 World Cup playoff draws scheduled for January 26.
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This means they will face any of Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, or Congo DR who are the lower lower-ranked teams after they ended the year in 45th, 50th, 52nd, 53rd, and 64th places respectively.
The seeding also implies Nigeria may face perennial and arch-rivals, Ghana and Cameroon, in their quest to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
The draw for the play-offs will take place in Cameroon during the upcoming AFCON, between the 22nd and 26th of January.
Nigeria will play the first leg of their playoff game away from home since it is expected to be played at the home of the lower-ranked teams.