Rwanda jumps four places in Fifa rankings

Rwanda has moved up four places in the latest Fifa/Coca Cola men’s football rankings released yesterday by the world body.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Rwanda has moved up four places in the latest Fifa/Coca Cola men’s football rankings released yesterday by the world body.

Rwanda amassed 297 points to move from 110th to 106th on the Fifa rankings and is moved to on 27th from 31st position on the continent. 

Rwanda which started the 2010 World/Africa cup qualifiers on promising note by defeating Mauritania 3-0 over the weekend last featured highly on the rankings in 2007 when it moved from 122 to 99.

In the Cecafa region, Uganda is leading the on 22nd in Africa and 99th in the World; Tanzania is second in the region standing on 23rd in Africa and 101st in the world.

Rwanda next opponent, Ethiopia which led the region in May’s Fifa rankings is the worst performing country after dropping 42 places from 89th to 131 in the world and from 19th to 37th in Africa.

Rwanda’s other opponents in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers Morocco is placed 6th on the African continent and 40th in the world while Mauritania is 40th in Africa and 137th in the world.

Argentina has extended their lead over second-placed Brazil by 46 points. In third place, Italy is already 135 points behind.

The upcoming European Championship in Austria and Switzerland is likely to result in some changes in the top spots in the coming weeks.

There are no fewer than 11 UEFA EURO 2008 participants in the top 20, and they can all hope to improve their positions in the next edition of the world ranking.

England, who did not qualify for EURO 2008, has made a strong impression by breaking into the top ten (9th, up 2).

The qualifying matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa that are already under way in Asia and Africa have resulted in a number of changes in the top 50 in recent weeks.

The biggest movers in the last month are Philippines (170th, up 19) and Togo (69th, up 17).

Ends