Rwanda drops one spot in Fifa rankings

Rwanda’s Fifa rankings have continued to drop with the Amavubi slipping one place to 136th position in Fifa rankings released on Thursday. In Africa, Rwanda remains 39th after accumulating 224 points. In East Africa, the country is ranked seventh.

Thursday, May 09, 2013
Rwanda lost 1-2 at home to Mali in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier in their last match. The New Times / T. Kisambira.

Rwanda’s Fifa rankings have continued to drop with the Amavubi slipping one place to 136th position in Fifa rankings released on Thursday. In Africa, Rwanda remains 39th after accumulating 224 points. In East Africa, the country is ranked seventh.Mali which plays Rwanda on June 9th in a World Cup qualifier didn’t move any place. The West Africa nation remains ranked 26th in the world and third in Africa.Despite being new in the job, Amavubi Stars head coach Eric Nshimiyimana told Times Sport that he will try his best to assemble a winning team in the coming matches such that the country can improve."It is obvious there is no way we can improve on our Fifa rankings without winning international matches. We have to go back to the drawing board and ensure that we start winning in our upcoming matches and I believe it is possible,” said the former Rwandan international. He added, "For Amavubi to be able to start winning, it is not the responsibility of the technical team. I am urging every stakeholder to play his/her rightful role such that we can collectively take this country to the next (footballing) level,” Nshimiyimana appealed.Most of the countries have not moved mostly due to the fact that they had not been so much involved in FIFA international matches, friendly or competitive.Uganda position moved up one place to 91st, while Ethiopia is 107th followed by Tanzania, who are ranked 116, six places above Kenya. Burundi is ranked 124th while Sudan also dropped one place to 134.Ivory Coast remains the best team in Africa retaining its place at 12th in the world. Ghana, Nigeria and Algeria complete the top five in Africa.Egypt remained on number 68. Spain, Germany and Argentina still remain the top 3 best teams in the World resepctively.The top ten national teams in FIFA World’s rankings remained the same with Spain, the current World and European champion, in the lead ahead of Germany, Argentina, Croatia and Portugal.More movements are expected in June, when the World Cup qualifiers resume and the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament.