…As Okala Hails New FIFA World Ranking

Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations winning goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala, has hailed the Super Eagles for being rated 30th in the new FIFA world ranking released yesterday.

Nigeria moved up 22 places from its 52nd position in December to occupy the 30th position.

In Africa, the Super Eagles moved up to the fourth spot from its former ninth position.

The improvement might have been as a result of the team’s impressive performance at the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa, where they won the tournament.

Okala gave the commendation while reacting to the ranking during an interview with Tidesports yesterday in Awka.

He said a lot had improved in Nigerian football, especially from the victorious outing during the AFCON, adding that it was “clear the glory days of Nigerian football are coming back’’.

“I am happy for the improvement; everybody is a witness to what is happening now.

“I don’t know how FIFA does it but I am of the opinion that we should rise and sustain it, not just by winning championships.

“It is good that we are winning now and if we continue to win till the end of the year, we will definitely become the first in Africa,” Okala said.

The former Green Eagles ace goal tender, said he was glad that normalcy had returned to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the team’s coaching crew, and advised that the coaches should be allowed to continue.

“Keshi should continue, God has given him that grace and anointing. In football, we say you don’t change a winning side,’’ he added.