RWANDA HAS moved eight places in the latest Fifa rankings released yesterday in Zurich, Switzerland. Stephen Constantine’s men improved from 109th to 101st position in the world and 26th in Africa, thanks mainly to their qualification for the group stage of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations-Morocco qualifiers. Last month, Amavubi played three international games, winning two of them – 1-0 away to Gabon in a friendly, and 2-0 home triumph over Congo on August 2. Earlier, they had lost 2-0 away to Congo in the first leg of Afcon second round qualifier, before cancelling out the deficit and going on to win the decisive tie in penalty shootouts. Nigeria, Rwanda’s first opponents in the last qualifying round of 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers, remain in 33rd position in the world and 2nd in Africa, behind Ivory Coast, who ranked 25th globally. In the Cecafa region, Uganda are the highest ranked team, in 81st position in the world and 20th in Africa, followed by Kenya 104thand 28th globally and continental-wide, respectively. Rwanda come third in the new rankings, then Tanzania (110th and 32nd, world and Africa, respectively); Ethiopia, 112th and 33rd; Sudan (also Rwanda’s opponents in the next Afcon qualification round), 115th and 36th; while Burundi are 129th globally and 41st in Africa. Africa’s youngest nation South Sudan are ranked 185th and 50th, globally and in Africa, respectively; Eritrea 203rd and 52nd; Somalia 204th and 53rd; while Djibouti are ranked 205th in the world and last (54th) in Africa. South Africa, Rwanda’s other group opponents in the upcoming Afcon qualifiers, are ranked 69th worldwide and 14th in Africa. 2014 World Cup winners Germany still top the world ranking, followed by World Cup finalists Argentina, third-runners up Netherlands, Colombia and Belgium in that order.
