FOR the first time this year, there is something to cheer for Nigeria in the FIFA/Cocacola monthly ranking as the country records an improvement in the latest rankings.

According to the June edition of the ranking released yesterday by the world's football governing body, Nigeria which had in the last six months fell on the pecking order, going down as far as 63rd last month leaped three places to the 60th position this month.

Although the country's national side, the Super Eagles lost two straight friendly matches, the team, however, braced up to pick valuable three points in its opening group F match for a place in the 2014 FIFA World Cup to be staged in Brazil after beating the Brave Warriors of Namibia 1-0 in Calabar last weekend.

The development is a tonic for the Nigerian side ahead of this weekend's World Cup qualifying tie away to Malawi.

Nigeria also improve in the African rankings moving from the 14th to the 11th place but that position is still far from what soccer lovers in the country expect to see the two-time African champions who have made four World Cup appearances.

2012 Nations Cup silver medalist, the Ivory Coast remains Africa's number one in the world as it is placed 16th followed by Ghana (25), Algeria (32) Libya (42) while Mali and current African champion Zambia, jointly stay in the 43rd position.

World and European titles holders, Spain retain its first spot but 1934 World Cup winners, Uruguay dislodged Germany to claim the second spot while the German dropped to the third position ahead of the Netherlands (4th), Brazil (5th) and England (6th) in that order.