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.
