Egypt has climbed nine places in the monthly FIFA ranking for April, to become 55th in the tables instead of 64th.

The Pharaohs returned to Africa’s top ten at eighth place as well as coming third among the Arab countries after Libya and Algeria.

The winners of seven African Cup of Nations (CAN) titles, who were in the top ten last year, kept sliding in the global ranking after failing to qualify for the 2012 edition.

Under current American coach Bob Bradley, the team has not played an official competitive match in more than eight months. Instead they use friendly games to prepare for the qualifiers to the 2013 and the 2014 World Cup.

FIFA rankings for April (March positions in parentheses):
1. Spain (1) 
2. Germany (3)
3. Uruguay (4)
4. Netherlands (2)
5. Portugal (7)

Top 5 Arab teams:
38. Algeria (35)
46. Libya (55)
55. Egypt (64)
57. Tunisia (56)
62. Morocco (61)

Top 10 African teams:
15. Ivory Coast (15)
22. Ghana (23)
38. Algeria (35)
39. Mali (42)
40. Zambia (41)
42. Gabon (43)
46. Libya (55)
55. Egypt (64)
57. Tunisia (56)
60. Nigeria (57)