Egypt drop five positions in FIFA rankings but continue leading Africa

Mahmoud Elassal , Thursday 14 Sep 2017

egypt
Egypt Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates (Photo:Reuters)

Egypt have dropped to 30th place in the FIFA global football rankings which were published on Thursday, down five places on last month.

Egypt are leading Group E in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers with 9 points. The Pharoahs lost 1-0 to Uganda in the third round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers before beating them 1-0 in the fourth round of the qualifiers; the results have affected Egypt's ranking this month.

Egypt are still leading African countries, ranking ahead of Tunisia (31), Senegal (33) Democratic Republic of the Congo (42), and Nigeria (44).

They have also kept their lead among Arab countries, above Tunisia (31), Saudi Arabia (53), Morocco (56) and Algeria (62).

The Pharaohs, who were ranked in the global top ten in 2010 during their golden era after three successive Africa Cup of Nations wins (2006, 2008 and 2010), are bidding for a place in the 2018 World Cup in Russia as they will play Congo on 8 October at home before ending the qualifiers against Ghana in Accra.

Germany changed places with Brazil in the lead of the global ranking after the Canarinho toped it last month.

Cape Verde Islands were the best mover in the rankings that were released on Thursday, jumping 47 positions to 67th place to appear in the African top ten countries, while Guatemala made the worst move, dropping 31 places to 131st.

FIFA world rankings (August position in parentheses)

1. Germany (2)

2. Brazil (1)

3. Portugal (6)

4. Argentina (3)

5. Belgium (9)

6. Poland (5)

7. Switzerland (4)

8. France (10)

9. Chile (7)

10. Colombia (8)

Top 10 African teams:

30. Egypt (25)

31. Tunisia (34)

33. Senegal (31)

42. DR Congo (28)

44. Nigeria (38)

45. Cameroon (35)

49. Burkina Faso (47)

62. Algeria (48)

65. Guinea (66)

67. Cape Verde Islands (114)

Top five Arab teams:

30. Egypt (25)

31. Tunisia (34)

53. Saudi Arabia (59)

56. Morocco (60)

62. Algeria (48)

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