Belgium and France make FIFA Ranking history

Belgium and World Cup winners France are the first teams to share top spot in FIFA latest rankings since the classification's 25-year history with Brazil, Croatia and Uruguay rounding up the top five.

While England, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain and Denmark are sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th respectively.

According to the rankings posted on the FIFA official website on Thursday, Belgium who was defeated by France in the semi-finals at Russia 2018 before claiming third place, overcame Scotland 4-0 in a friendly and won their Nations League debut 3-0 against Iceland earlier this month to join the world champions at the summit.

France, meanwhile, were held to a goalless draw by Germany in Munich before beating Netherlands 2-1 in Nations League Group A1.

Both teams find themselves on 1729 ranking points, well ahead of third-placed Brazil. The World Cup quarter-finalists, who feel at the hands of the Belgians in Russia, have 1663 points to their credit, six more than last month.

The only other change in the top 10 saw Denmark, who played an international against Slovakia last month with a team comprised of amateurs and futsal players, slip down one place to 10th, below Spain.

After their humiliating group-stage exit at the World Cup, Germany rose a further three positions and now sit 12th.

The biggest movers were Ukraine, who climbed six spots to 29th courtesy of Nations League triumphs over Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Meanwhile, Kenya enjoyed the biggest jump in terms of points, moving up 22 while Ghana and Slovenia were the big losers this month, each slipped six spots, to 51 and 61 respectively.

In Africa, the Super Eagles of Nigeria moved up one spot from 49th with 1415 points to finish 48th in the month of September.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles who defeated Seychelles 3-0 on Sept. 8 to put themselves back in contention for a place at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) improved their position from seventh to the 4th best team in Africa.

Seychelles dropped one spot from 188th to 189th in the rankings, while Libya, whom Nigeria face in their next group game of the AFCON qualifier next month are placed 99th in the rankings.

Senegal still maintains their number one spot in Africa and 25th in the world with 1492 points.

DR Congo and Morocco are second and third in Africa, and 40th and 45th in the world with 1447 and 1425 points respectively.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on Oct. 25