Egypt lose three positions in December FIFA rankings
Mahmoud Elassal, Thursday 19 Dec 2013
Out-of-action Pharaohs, who failed to reach the 2014 World Cup, lose three positions in FIFA's December rankings


Egypt fell three positions to 41 in the FIFA global football rankings for December, after placing 38 last month.

The Pharaohs, winner of a record seven African Cup of Nations (CAN) trophies, failed to reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after losing 7-3 to Ghana on aggregate last month.

American manager Bob Bradley has been sacked after failing to see the Pharaohs into the World Cup. Former assistant coach Shawky Gharib has been hired in his place.

The 54-year-old has been entrusted to lead the team in the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers and the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Egypt rank sixth among African countries, after Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria and Cape Verde Islands.

The Pharaohs made it into the world's top ten after winning three successive African Cup of Nations trophies, in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

Spain leads an unchanged top four, ahead of Germany, Argentina and Colombia. After Portugal, Uruguay is number six, followed by Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands and Brazil.

Top 10: (November's positions in parentheses)

1. Spain (1)

2. Germany (2)

3. Argentina (3)

4. Colombia (4)

5- Portugal (5)

6- Uruguay (6)

7- Italy (7)

8- Switzerland (8)

9- Netherlands (9)

10- Brazil (10)

Top 12 African teams:

17. Ivory Coast

24. Ghana

26. Algeria

37. Nigeria

39. Cape Verde Islands

41. Egypt

45. Mali

48. Tunisia

50. Cameroon

53. Burkina Faso

59. Libya

61. Guinea

Top 5 Arab teams:

26. Algeria

41. Egypt

48. Tunisia

59. Libya

73. Morocco

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