Spain maintains top spot in Fifa rankings as Nigeria looses grip on Africa

Spain has maintained top position in the latest FIFA World Ranking as the champion in South Africa 2010 continues to be the team to beat.

Germany climbed one spot in the table up to number two, with 2011 Copa America winner Uruguay moving into third position.

Despite not playing any games in the past month, losing World Cup finalist the Netherlands has dropped two places in the ranking, and now sits fourth.

Portugal leapfrogged Brazil (sixth) and England (seventh) to move up to fifth, with Croatia (eighth), Denmark (ninth) and Argentina completing the top 10.

Italy slipped three places and now sits 12th in the ranking, behind Russia and ahead of Chile.

Cote d’Ivoire is the best-placed African team on the list at number 15 despite losing the 2012 African Nations Cup in February to Zambia (40th). Australia is Asia’s highest-ranked representative in 21st position.

Ghana is second in Africa and 22^nd in the world going one place up, while Algeria, Mali and Zambia follow in third, fourth and fifth in Africa and 38^th, 39^th and 40^th in the world.

Gabon, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Nigeria close the top ten in Africa with distant positions on the world stage.

African Top 10

Country                       Africa             World

Ivory Coast                 1^st                       15^th

Ghana                         2^nd                      22^nd

Algeria                        3^rd                       38^th

Mali                               4^th                     39^th

Zambia                        5^th                       40^th

Gabon                         6^th                        42^nd

Libya                            7^th                        46^th

Egypt                          8^th                          55^th

Tunisia                       9^th                          57^th

Nigeria                    10^th                            60th