Egypt has climbed three places in the FIFA global football rankings for September, up to 49th after placing 52nd last month.

The Pharaohs are preparing for the Chad match in the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, scheduled to kick off Sunday in N'Djamena at 16:30 Cairo local time.

Beating Tanzania 3-0 in June in the CAN 2017 qualifiers Group G's only game so far, Egypt will be looking for a win against Chad to stay top of the group table, which also includes Nigeria and Tanzania.

Egypt was out of action during the last two months, only holding closed camps for the upcoming game against Chad next week.

The seven-time African Champions have failed to reach Africa's soccer showpiece three times in a row — the first time to miss at least two consecutive tournaments since failing to qualify for the 1965 and 1968 CAN.

Egypt made it into the world's top 10 when they won three successive African Cup of Nations trophies, in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

Algeria is still leading the African nations in 19th place, ahead of Ivory Coast (21), Ghana (27), Tunisia (33) and Senegal (38).

Argentina topped the FIFA global ranking as Belgium kept its place in second while Germany placed third.

FIFA world ranking (August position in parentheses):

1. Argentina (1)

2. Belgium (2)

3. Germany (3)

4. Colombia (4)

5. Brazil (5)

6. Portugal (6)

7. Romania (7)

8. Chile (10)

9. Wales (9)

10. England (8)

Top five African teams:

19. Algeria (19)

21. Ivory Coast (21)

27. Ghana (27)

33. Tunisia (34)

38. Senegal (39)

Top five Arab teams:

19. Algeria (19)

33. Tunisia (33)

49. Egypt (53)

70. United Arab Emirates (70)

82. Iraq (85)

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