Sports
IFFHS Places Rivers United 17th Best African Team
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has picked Rivers United as the best team in Nigeria, 17th best team in Africa and 201th best team in the world.
According to the latest IFFHS Africa football/soccer clubs ranking top 20 which covers the period 1st April 2021 – 31th March 2022 and updated after matches played on 10 April 2022, Egyptian side, Al Ahly SC is still Africa’s best team and 19th in the world, followed by Raja CA Casablanca and Algerian CR Belouizdad.
Full List Of Top 20 Clubs In Africa
Note: (CR – CAF Ranking, WR – World Ranking)
1. Al Ahly SC – Egypt (WR 19, 213 points)
2. Raja CA Casablanca – Morocco (WR 49, 170,5 points)
3. Algerian CR Belouizdad (WR 59, 159.5 points).
4. Wydad AC Casablanca – Morocco (WR 77, 144,5 points)
5. Pyramids FC – Egypt (WR 89, 135 points)
6. Atlético Petro de Luanda – Angola (WR 93, 133,5 points)
7. Zamalek SC – Egypt (WR 97, 132,5 points)
8. Mamelodi Sundowns FC – South Africa (WR 115, 125,5 points)
9. JS Kabylie – Algeria (WR 118, 124 points)
10. ES Sétif – Algeria (WR 128, 120 points)
11. Simba SC – Tanzania (WR 130, 117,5 points)
12. Berkane – Morocco (WR 151, 103 points)
13. Orlando Pirates FC – South Africa (WR 159, 99 points)
14. JS Saoura – Algeria (WR 168, 96 points)
15. TP Mazembe – Congo DR (WR 177, 95,5 points)
16. Al Masry – Egypt (WR 182, 94 points)
17. Rivers United FC – Nigeria (WR 201, 89,5 points)
18. Esperance ST – Tunisia (WR 206, 88 points)
19. Zanaco FC – Zambia (WR 212, 87,5 points)
20. GD Sagrada Esperança – Angola (WR 216, 86 points)
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) was founded in 1984, March 24 in Leipzig, Germany and is today registered in Zurich, Switzerland.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.