Women’s football: FIFA ranks Nigeria first in Africa

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have been ranked as the first team in Africa after moving up by one spot to place 38th in the world in the FIFA Women’s World Football Ranking.

In the ranking table for the month of March on the website of world football governing body FIFA on Thursday, Nigeria garnered 1,614 points.

Nigeria placed first in Africa ahead of Cameroon, South Africa, Ghana, and Ivory Coast who are second, third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Zambia are also among several teams to have earned a FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking boost following a busy start to the year.

A combination of Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifiers and several friendly tournaments have caused significant movement across the continents.

“While the Zambians (100th, up six) are this edition’s biggest climbers after clinching a spot at the Olympics with a shock triumph over Cameroon, they are not the only team ascending the order.

“France (3rd, up one), Brazil (8th, up one), Korea DPR (10th, up one) and Korea Republic (18th, up two) have all edged upwards in the top 20, while both Slovenia (49th, up one) and Jamaica (50th, up one) are now in their highest-ever positions.