The Super Eagles were 67th in May, but victories in their international friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg ensured they amassed 559 points to move up. In Africa, they are placed behind Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Congo DR, Guinea, Cameroon and Congo. Algeria moved one place up to number 32 in the world, while reigning African kings Cote d’Ivoire dived two places to place number 36.
Argentina and Belgium held firm to the first and second spot in the world while Austria returned to the top ten with Uefa Euro hosts France moving up four places to 17th in the world. Slovakia and Madagascar were top movers. The Europeans climbed eight steps to the 24th place, while the Africans rose 29 places into the top 108.
In a mixed fortune for Nigeria, as the country moved up on the ranking one of the country's representatives the Dream team VI lost its opening match in the Suwon tournament when the hosts South Korea pipped Samson Siasia's boys by a lone goal.
Choi Kyubaek struck late on to hand South Korea a 1-0 victory over Nigeria at the Suwon International Youth football competition played on Thursday afternoon. The Jeonbuk Hyundai defender beat the offside trap to hand the Red Devil a value win as the Dream Team VI would rue missed chances to have won the encounter.
Samson Siasia’s lad who had not lost any competitive match since the 2015 All African Games where they bowed 3-1 to Burkina Faso in the semi-final, were hoping to secure a valuable win against the Red Devils as they continue build up for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
They never looked like a team that would bow to Shin Tae-yong’s side , but their inability to convert promising opportunities was a concern. Nigeria’s best chance came in the 55th minute after Obanor Erhun’s well drilled shot kissed the upright. Not too long, Usman Mohammed and Taiwo Awoniyi missed clear cut chances to put their side ahead.
As the game progressed, the hosts began to grow in confidence and
threatened to score but goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel was up to the
challenge as he made brilliant saves to deny the Red Devils.Nigeria probed the Koreans backline with no reward, Tiongoli Tonbara looking particularly dangerous. And with four minutes left to play, Kyubaek could count himself lucky when his goal was not ruled for offside. The team will be hoping to bounce back in the competition when they battle Honduras and Denmark in the next two games.
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