SPORTS
Nigeria Moves Four Spots in FIFA Ranking
By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have moved up by four spots in the November ranking to place 31st on the ranking table.
In the latest announced by the world football governing body, FIFA, yesterday Nigeria garnered 1493 points as against 1481 points gotten in October.
The movement still helped the Super Eagles retain the third position on the continent behind Senegal and Tunisia who are placed 20th and 27th with 1555 and 1506 points respectively.
The upward movement was as a result of their 2-1 win over Benin Republic and 4-2 win over Lesotho in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
On the international scene, the top five remains unchanged and there is only one change in the top ten, with Croatia (6th, up 1) climbing for the second successive edition at the expense of Portugal (7th, down 1).
There are, however, more significant changes further down the table, with Italy (13th, up 2), Poland (19th, up 2), Serbia (29th, up 4) and Nigeria (31st, up 4) all pushing their way upwards.
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifiers in Asia have also made an impression.
Myanmar (136th, up 11), for example, are the only team to have advanced more than ten positions, having done so thanks to impressive wins over Nepal (170th, down 3), Tajikistan (121st, down 5) and Mongolia (190th, down 4).
Kuwait (147th, up 9) have also made a substantial jump on the back of their fine results in the Qatar 2022 preliminaries.
Yet perhaps the most significant success story of this edition is Venezuela (25th, up 1).
While their rise might be more modest than those of others, La Vinotinto – due largely to a recent friendly victory over Japan (28th, unchanged) – have now ascended to their highest position since the ranking was introduced in 1993.
Nigeria’s Flamingos will leave for Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday ahead of the first leg of their 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Guinea.
A total of 36 players are currently in the team’s camp, though the squad is expected to be trimmed before departing for Abidjan.
The Flamingos arrived in Ikenne last week Sunday for the final phase of their preparations.
Akeem Busari’s side thrashed Lakeside Queens FA 5-0 in their first friendly in Ikenne last Thursday.
Guinea will host the first leg of the second qualifying round tie at their makeshift home ground in Abidjan on Saturday.
The reverse fixture is slated for the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne on Saturday, 30 May.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons will find out their opponents for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games women’s football qualifiers this week.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Tuesday that the draw for the African qualifying series will take place on Wednesday at its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 12 noon and will be streamed live on CAF TV.
A total of 35 national teams, including Super Falcons will participate in the qualifiers, which will be played over five rounds.
The other countries are; Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea.
Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe are the other countries that will take part in the qualifiers.
Two teams will earn Africa’s slots at the women’s football tournament of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The Super Falcons and Copper Queens of Zambia represented the continent at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Nigeria’s Flamingos will take on Lakeside Queens in a friendly match in Ikenne on Thursday as they intensify preparations for their 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Guinea.
It will be the Flamingos’ first friendly since arriving in Ikenne for the final phase of their preparations for the qualifying fixtures.
Akeem Busari’s side played five friendly matches in Abuja before travelling to Ikenne.
They secured four victories and one draw from their five friendly games.
The team is expected to play more friendly games before taking on the Guineans.
Guinea will host the first leg in Conakry on Sunday, May 24.
The reverse fixture is scheduled for the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, a week later.
Kogi Traditional Rulers Unite to Tackle Insecurity
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja Traditional rulers from Oworo land in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, have resolved to work together to tackle insecurity and...
U-17 WWCQ: Flamingos Off To Abidjan Wednesday for Guinea Showdown
ShareNigeria’s Flamingos will leave for Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday ahead of the first leg of their 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture...
Strike over High Fuel Prices Paralyses Transport in Kenya
ShareThousands of Kenyan commuters have been stranded and businesses paralyzed as public transport operators went on a nationwide strike to protest against recent increases in the cost fuel. Key roads in...
Military Airstrikes Kill 20 ISIS-ISWAP Terrorists in Borno — DHQ
ShareThe Defence Headquarters said coordinated airstrikes in the Metele general area of Borno have killed more than 20 ISIS/ISWAP fighters in continued counter-terrorism operations in the North-East....
Court Grants El-Rufai N100m Bail amid Ongoing Legal Battle
ShareFrom Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, setting the bail sum at N100...
NRS Unveils Single Tax Identifier for Individuals, Businesses
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has announced the rollout of a unified Taxpayer Identification (Tax ID)...
Kidnappers Kill Oyo Teacher as Pupils, Colleagues Remain in Captivity
ShareFrom Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo The abduction crisis in Oyo State took a tragic turn on Sunday as one of the...
APC Heavyweights Sweep Senatorial Primaries Ahead of 2027
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday recorded major victories for several political heavyweights in its senatorial primaries ahead of...
APC Unveils Winners of Adamawa House of Representatives Primaries
ShareFrom Yagana Ali, Yola The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially announced the winners of its House of Representatives primary...
Northwest Varsity Kano Matriculates 7,929 Students
ShareFrom Rabiu Sanusi, Kano Northwest University Kano on Friday held its 13th Matriculation Ceremony for newly admitted students of the...