Rwanda women national team has moved six places up from 105 to 111 in the latest FIFA ranking released on Friday, despite not having placed a single international game in 2017. Rwanda last played a competitive match during the 2016 CECAFA Women Challenge Cup held in in Jinja, Uganda where Grace Nyinawumuntu-led team was eliminated in at the group stages. Tanzania won the tournament after beating Kenya 2-1 in the final. Considered among the biggest movers, Rwanda is also ranked 13th in Africa and third in CECAFA region behind leaders Ethiopia, who are ranked 90th globally and Tanzania (102nd). Kenya and Uganda are ranked 108th and 111th respectively while Burundi is among countries axed from the ranking due to their prolonged inactivity. Reigning African champions Nigeria are the continent’s number one despite not also playing a single match since winning the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) in December last year. The Super Falcons dropped by two spots, finishing the year in 37th worldwide from September’s 35th position. Ghana, who played only one fixture this year, against France, retain their 46th position in the world and second in Africa ahead of Cameroon, who dropped a spot to 48th in the world while Equatorial Guinea complete Africa’s top four and rank 53rd globally. The reigning COSAFA champions, South Africa are fifth on the continent and 54th in the world. Globally, reigning world champions USA top the table, followed by Germany while England and Australia come in third and fourth place respectively. The 2016 Olympic Games bronze medalists Canada complete top five. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
