Eagles hit worst year-end ranking in six years
Though the Super Eagles moved up one spot to finish the year in
32nd position, the performance for the period is the worst finish in a year-end
for the country’s national team in the last six years.
The Eagles started the year with yet another third place finish
at the Nations Cup in Angola, and also failed to make it beyond the first round
of the first World Cup on African soil, hosted recently by South Africa,
amongst other disappointing performances in the course of the year. While some
have blamed the handlers of the team for the woes, others have faulted the
commitment level of most of the players that make up the team. Already, the new
coach, Samson Siasia, has promised sweeping changes in the team in a bid to
make the Eagles soar again.
The country’s best year-end finish in the last six years was in
2006 when the country was rated 9th in the world. However, the team failed to
make it to the World Cup in Germany that year and also finished 3rd in the
Nations Cup hosted by Egypt.
This scenario has made some football fans question the
reliability of the monthly FIFA rankings to adequately rate the performance or
achievement of the Eagles. Egypt remains the continent’s highest ranked team in
9th position, while Ghana is in second place and is ranked 16th. Cote D Ivoire
occupy third spot in 21st position, followed by Nigeria and Algeria in 4th and
5th spot respectively in the continent.
Top finishers
World champions, Spain, finished the year in top spot as the
upper reaches of the latest rankings reflect the teams’ performances at the
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. Runners-up, the Netherlands, are in second
place; followed by semi-finalists, Germany, who have bumped Brazil out of third
place.
For the third year in a row, Spain are the Team of the Year,
while the Netherlands have claimed the title of Best Mover of the Year for the
team that earned the most points in 2010. Other teams have also caused a stir
outside the top ten. Montenegro, who just a year ago were ranked 74th, gained
368 points to finish the year in 25th position. Botswana were also successful,
starting the year in 118th position and ending it in 53rd.
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