Fresh injury crisis threatens fitness of Success for Algeria clash

Nigeria climbs four places in latest FIFA ranking
Super Eagles’ striker, Isaac Success, may miss Nigeria’s Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria next month due to a fresh injury crisis that has threatened to blight his season.

Nigeria will meet Algeria in the Russia 2018 qualifier in Uyo on November 12.Reports in the British media indicate that Success, who plays for Watford, has broken down again after just one start for the club.

The Hornets splashed out a then-club record of £12.5 million to bring the Nigerian, 20, in from Granada in the summer. But he has struggled with injuries since and has not trained this week due to a thigh problem picked up in his man of the match display at Middlesbrough on his maiden start, reports dailystar.co.uk.

Watford Manager, Walter Mazzarri, said he substituted Success against Middlesbrough “because the physio was telling me he was hurting.“I tried to keep him on for as long as possible during the game but after last 90 minutes they looked at him and said he would not train due to muscular problem.

“Even in the past, I have been saying he has not been training regular because of his muscle problems. He has been having problems in the upper right leg.

“He didn’t train all week so he is also a doubt for Saturday’s game at Swansea. He may not be available.“I don’t look at how my players played in the last game but look at how they trained all week.”Success has played just 191 minutes for Watford so far thanks to his repeat injury issues.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles continued their steady rise in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking as they now occupy the 60th position in the latest rankings.
 
In the FIFA ranking released yesterday, the Eagles moved up from the 64th to 60th position. The new position places Nigeria in the 11th position in Africa.
 
The Eagles’ recent improvement in the ranking is not unconnected to their last two victories against Tanzania in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers and Zambia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
 
Nigeria’s opponent in the next Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier, Algeria, remained 35th in the world and third in Africa, while Cameroun and Zambia are 59th and 94th respectively. 

African champions, Cote d’Ivoire, maintain their number one position in the continent, but they climbed three places to 31st, while Senegal closely follow as world number 32 and second in Africa.Argentina are still the world’s leading team, with world champions, Germany, moving up one step to second.
 
In third spot is Brazil, who moved one step up, Belgium are fourth and Colombia fifth.