…throws out Cape Verde

World football governing body, FIFA, yesterday, released its latest global ranking in which it seeded Nigeria and four other African countries for the continent’s 2014 World Cup qualifying play-offs.

Apart from Nigeria, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Tunisia, who only yesterday, replaced Cape Verde Island among the 10 finalists from the group stage, were also seeded for the play-offs draw holding on Monday in Cairo, Egypt.

In a statement sent to our correspondent, FIFA said that Nigeria went down one spot on the rung to place 36th globally, tied with Venezuela. By the ranking, Nigeria is fourth-best football playing nation in Africa behind Cote d’Ivoire (19th), Ghana (24th) and Algeria (28th).

Tunisia, ranked 46th globally and seventh on the continent, completes the five countries among the 10 World Cup group qualifying finalists that are seeded for Monday’s play-offs draw at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

Surprisingly, FIFA yesterday threw out Cape Verde out of the play-offs draw after sanctioning the Cape Verdean Football Association (FCF) for fielding an ineligible player in the group stage match between Tunisia and the Cape Verde Islands played on September 7, 2013.

“The sanction relates to the Cape Verde player, Fernando Varela, failing to serve the full four-match suspension imposed on him after receiving a red card for unsporting conduct towards a match official during a FIFA World Cup qualifier on March 24, 2013,” FIFA explained.

“The match has been declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Tunisia, meaning that the Cape Verde Islands will not progress to round three of the FIFA World Cup African zone qualifiers having dropped to second place in Group B with nine points while Tunisia finish first with 14 points and will now advance.”

The world soccer governing body also fined the FCF CHF 6,000 (Swiss Francs) after its disciplinary committee considered the FCF liable for having breached art. 55 par.1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and art. 8 of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Regulations.

Meanwhile, FIFA disclosed that 185 matches played in the past month were used to compute the latest World Ranking. All matches played up to September 10, including Super Eagles’ 4-1 thrashing of Burkina Faso, were taken into account.

Spain retains the number one spot, followed by Argentina and Germany. The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be released on October 17, 2013.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/wcup-play-offs-fifa-seeds-nigeria-civ-ghana-algeria-tunisia/

Wahala dey o.. Are we already playing the finals?

Goodluck SE..

I NEED GHANA IN THE PLAY OFF

pendusky: I NEED GHANA IN THE PLAY OFF

U no like ConGo? When u can see clearly ghana is seeded (2nd in africa) jst like 9ja (4th in africa) d top 5 will be drawn against d 2nd 5 teams...#konaje