2010 World/Nations Cup qualifiers high riders Rwanda have started the year on a poor note after slumping to 91st in the latest Fifa rankings published yesterday by Fifa.

Rwanda crashed thirteen places from 78 attained late last year in December to clinch its poorest position this year following a poor showing at the just concluded Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.

Rwanda was sent packing after failing to progress past the group stage of the lucrative Cecafa Cup held in Uganda.

Amavubi fell to eventual winners Uganda 0-4 in the opening game and lost 0-2 to Tanzania, winning against minnows Somalia and Zanzibar in the other two group games.

In the Cecafa region, Rwanda is behind Uganda (68) and Kenya (84) respectively. Uganda climbed above Kenya despite its failure to reach the final round of the 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifiers.

Only Rwanda, Kenya and Sudan managed to reach the third round of the 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifying phase.

Rwanda’s opponent in the third round of the 2010 World/Nations Cup, Egypt has moved up one place to 15.

Zambia has dropped four places to 76 and Algeria is unmoved and remains on 64th position.

Cameroon remains Africa’s top-ranked national side and is unmoved on 14th position on the rankings.

There was little movement at the top of the table with the top 14 positions remaining unchanged and Spain retaining a comfortable lead over nearest rivals Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Brazil.

Indeed, the only climbers in the top 20 are Egypt (15) who moved one place and Nigeria (17) who moved two places respectively.

Costa Rica (47th, up 6) are the only team currently in the top 50 to have risen more than five places, thus earning a place among the world’s 50 best teams for the first time since July 2007.

Lithuania are the only other team to move into the top 50, while the other movers in the ranking are predominantly from Asia or Africa.

The Gulf Cup in Oman and the Cecafa Cup in Uganda are two tournaments that have already had a positive effect on the positions of some of the teams taking part. Kenya is the world’s worst mover after going down 16 positions while Somalia is the best mover after rising 22 positions.

Fifa rankings:

1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Italy
4. Netherlands
5. Brazil

Africa

1. Cameroon (14)
2 Egypt (15)
3. Nigeria (17)
4. Ghana (25)
5. Côte d’Ivoire (27)

Cecafa

1. Uganda (68)
2. Kenya (84)
3. Rwanda (91)
4. Sudan (93)
5. Tanzania (101)

Ends