Rwanda improves on Fifa rankings

RWANDA has risen three places from 117th to 114th on the latest Fifa world rankings released yesterday in Zurich, Switzerland. The results are contrary to wide expectations that the country would fall after last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat against Algeria.

Saturday, October 17, 2009
Ferwafa boss Jean Bosco Kazura (File photo)

RWANDA has risen three places from 117th to 114th on the latest Fifa world rankings released yesterday in Zurich, Switzerland.

The results are contrary to wide expectations that the country would fall after last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat against Algeria.

Uganda continues to lead the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (Cecafa) bloc despite falling five places to 77th position.

Tanzania also fell five places to 99th position and is ranked second in the region while Kenya is third on 104th position; Sudan is 113th after falling seventeen places.

Rwanda’s Group C opponents Zambia dropped fifteen places to 95th position while Algeria and Egypt are ranked 29th and 28th respectively.

Cameroon on 14th spot is the highest ranked team on the continent.

Elsewhere, Brazil retains a narrow lead at the summit of the world rankings over Spain, the Netherlands and Italy. England remains in seventh place, whereas Germany (5th, down 1) and Russia (12th, down 6) have both lost ground.

Besides Argentina (6th, up 2), Croatia (8th, up 1) and France (9th, up 1), this month’s big winners are Portugal (10th, up 7), who are back in the top 10 after a successful run of World Cup qualifying games.

World Rankings

1. Brazil
2. Spain
3. Netherlands
4. Italy
5. Germany
Africa
1. Cameroon (14)
2. Côte d’Ivoire (19)
3. Egypt (28)
4. Algeria (29)
5. Nigeria (32)

Ends