Senegal go top of Africa ranking
Palestine rises above Israel in ranking for first time
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 23, (AFP): Senegal rose to a record 23rd place in the world and first in Africa when the November FIFA rankings were released on Thursday.
The ‘Teranga Lions’ achieved their highest position thanks to backto-back World Cup qualifying victories over South Africa this month.
Senegal triumphed 2-0 in Polokwane to seal a place at the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, then won a deadrubber 2-1 in Dakar four days later.
They climbed nine places in the world since October to displace Tunisia as the number one national team in Africa.
It was a short-lived time at the top for the Tunisians, who moved into first place only last month for the first time in 15 years.
Tunisia slipped to second behind Senegal and ahead of Egypt having been held 0-0 at home by Libya in a World Cup qualifier.
The Democratic Republic of Congo remained fourth and Herve Renard coached Morocco climbed two places to fifth after defeating the Ivory Coast to book a World Cup slot in Russia.
It will be a first World Cup appearance for Frenchman Renard after winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia and the Ivory Coast.
Burkina Faso, Cup of Nations title-holders Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory Coast complete the top 10.
Africa Top 10
1. Senegal (world ranking 23), 2. Tunisia (27), 3. Egypt (31), 4. Democratic Republic of Congo (36), 5. Morocco (40), 6. Burkina Faso (44), 7. Cameroon (45), 8. Nigeria (50), 9. Ghana (51), 10. Ivory Coast (61)
LAUSANNE, Nov 23, (AFP): Spain climbed two places to sixth and Switzerland were up three spots to eighth in the latest FIFA world rankings released on Thursday.
The top five remained unchanged with world champions Germany leading the way from Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and Belgium.
Switzerland’s victory over Northern Ireland in the World Cup playoffs helped them move up, as did similar successes for Denmark and Sweden.
Both Scandinavian countries moved up seven places to 12th and 18th respectively after ousting Republic of Ireland and Italy in the play-offs.
Despite their loss to Sweden denying them a place at the World Cup for the first time in 60 years, Italy still moved up one place to 14th.
It wasn’t such good news for British teams as England dropped three places to 15th despite a pair of credible 0-0 draws with Germany and Brazil recently.
Wales paid for their failure to reach the World Cup finals by dropping five places to 19th.
Palestine’s football team achieved its highest ranking in history Thursday, rising above Israel in the FIFA world rankings for the first time.
The head of the Palestinian football association labelled it an “historic achievement” as the team rose two spots to 82nd in FIFA’s new rankings, published Thursday.
Israel fell 16 places to 96th after a disappointing failed World Cup qualification campaign.
Palestine have recently won a series of games as they seek to qualify for the 2019 Asian Cup, including a 10-0 victory over Bhutan.
The announcement comes as the Palestinian football association has campaigned to encourage FIFA to take action against six Israeli clubs located in settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Settlements are considered illegal under international law, and the Palestinians had asked FIFA to take action against the Israeli FA.
FIFA rankings as of Nov 23:
1. Germany 2. Brazil 3. Portugal 4. Argentina 5. Belgium 6. Spain (+2) 7. Poland (-1) 8. Switzerland (+3) 9. France (-2) 10. Chile (-1)
11. Peru (-1) 12. Denmark (+7) 13. Colombia 14. Italy (+1) 15. England (-3) 16. Mexico 17. Croatia (+1) 18. Sweden (+7) 19. Wales (-5) 20. Netherlands