RWANDA HAS moved up fifteen places in the latest Fifa/Coca-Cola world rankings released yesterday in Zurich.

Amavubi Stars jumped from 131st to 116th after successfully eliminating Libya in the first preliminary round of 2015 Afcon qualifiers last Saturday. In Africa, Rwanda moved from the 39th to 35th position with Algeria dethroning Ivory Coast at the top.

Ferwafa president Vincent Nzamwita said, "We are happy with the big jump by our team, but this is just the beginning of where we want to see Rwanda in world ranking.”

"The target is to make sure the national team wins more than it loses in the coming months, which would improve our rankings significantly and help Rwandan players attract attention of European clubs,” he noted.

The 2014 World Cup-bound Algeria is ranked first in Africa and 22nd globally, while Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast, also going to Brazil for this month’s World Cup, dropped to second place in Africa and 23rd in the world. 

Egypt is third in Africa and 36th in world rankings, while Brazil-bound Ghana is 4th and 37th in Africa and world respectively.

Spain continues to rule the world, Germany are second-ranked, while the forthcoming World Cup hosts Brazil moved one place up from fourth to third.

In the region, DR Congo comes first in the 18th position in Africa and 84th globally. Uganda is second in the 20th spot in Africa and 86th worldwide while Ethiopia are 29th in Africa and 107th globally.

Kenya are 30th in Africa and 108th globally, Tanzania are 32nd and 113th in Africa and the world respectively. Sudan is 37th on the continent and 120 globally, while Burundi is 39th and 128th in Africa and in the world respectively.