Nigeria’s Super Eagles have six months to improve their FIFA
ranking, ahead of the draw for the final round of the 2018 World Cup
qualifiers in June 2016.
Super Eagles are ranked 59th in the world and outside Africa’s top
10, which could mean they could draw very tough opponents in the final
hurdle for qualification to Russia 2018.
On current ranking, Nigeria would be drawn in pot 3, which could see
them draw tough teams like Ghana and Cameroon in the first two pots of
the draw.
However, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said it will maximize
two FIFA friendly windows before June 24, 2016, to improve their FIFA
rankings.
The first of such window will be between March 21 and 29, while the second window is between May 30 and June 7, 2016.
Twenty nations have sealed their place for the third and final
qualifying round, including Africa’s representatives at Brazil 2014 and
South Africa 2010.
The 20 teams will be divided into five groups of four teams to play
home-and-away round-robin matches, with the winners of each group to
qualify for Russia 2018.
FIFA also confirmed that the procedures for which the draws –
including pots and seeded teams – will be announced at a later date.
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