Nigeria's Kelechi Iheanacho (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's first goal during an international friendly football match between Argentina and Nigeria in Krasnodar on November 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Mladen ANTONOV
• Nigeria’s drops to 50th in FIFA ranking
The Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) Technical Committee will soon meet to deliberate on the Russia 2018 World Cup programme submitted by Super Eagles’ Coach, Gernot Rohr.
The technical committee chairman, Ahmed Fresh told reporters in Abuja that the Franco-German has submitted his plan for the World Cup, including the processes that could lead to the country’s best performance ever at the global football festival.
Fresh said the NFF was ready to support the coach to achieve his programme, promising that the committee would work in tandem with Rohr to ensure Nigeria surpassed the second round finish it achieved in previous editions of the World Cup.
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On Wednesday, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick revealed plans to organise at least five friendly matches for the Super Eagles before the World Cup.
The Super Eagles last week defeated Argentina 4-2 in their first post qualification friendly game with Coach Rohr saying that more of such games would aid their build up to the competition.
Pinnick said: “We are looking at a minimum of playing five top class friendlies before the World Cup proper.
“We are looking at countries that are above us in the ranking and countries that are in the top 10 of world football ranking and countries that are in the World Cup as well.”
He added that some countries have been approached and the NFF is expecting to tie down dates for those games.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has dropped to number 50 in the latest FIFA rankings despite its excellent performance in the World Cup qualifiers and the recent 4-2 defeat of Argentina in a friendly game.
In the latest FIFA ranking released yesterday, Nigeria dropped from 41st to 50th in the world and eighth in Africa. Countries like Congo DR, Burkina Faso, and even Cameroun are ranked above Nigeria.
The ranking, though, will have no impact on the World Cup group stage draw billed for December 1.
According to the ranking, the top five teams in Africa are Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Congo DR and Morocco.
Source: G Sport
