Nigeria drop to ninth after 'boardroom' loss

Johannesburg - A 'boardroom' defeat led Nigeria to drop one place to ninth in the latest FIFA Africa rankings for December released on Thursday. 

Nigeria had a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in Algeria last month changed to a 3-0 defeat by FIFA officials after they fielded suspended Abdullahi Shehu.

The result did not affect the final standings with Nigeria finishing five points ahead of Zambia with Cameroon third and Algeria last.

Ghana moved above Nigeria to eighth and Algeria rose to 10th with 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title-holders, Ivory Coast, falling out of a top 10 headed by Senegal.

Africa Top 10:

1. Senegal (world ranking 23)

2. Tunisia (27)

3. Egypt (31)

4. Democratic Republic of Congo (39),

5. Morocco (40)

6. Burkina Faso (44)

7. Cameroon (45)

8. Ghana (50)

9. Nigeria (51)

10. Algeria (58)

Also:

17. South Africa (81)