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| Gambia falls in ranking |
The Scorpions have fallen two places down from last month’s
rankings which placed them at number 144 to number 146 in the latest rankings.
The decline could well be attributed to the recent defeat to
the Elephants of Ivory Coast in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in March, which
played an impact on the country’s status with the national team bagging 187
points and dropping them two places from their previous position. The country
still maintains its number 40 ranking in the continent.
With the Taifa Stars of Tanzania moving up to 116th in the
global classification, the Gambia continues to be the lowest ranked side in
their 2014 World Cup qualifying group.
Until October 2012, the Scorpions were consistently rated
above Tanzania, but the East Africans have seen their rankings go progressively
upwards since then while the Gambia has suffered a decline.
Morocco gains three places to be ranked 74th in the world
and 18th in Africa as Ivory Coast also gains a place in the global position to
be 12th and top in Africa.
Gambia can improve its position with a home win in their
next World Cup 2014 qualifier against Ivory Coast in June.
According to FIFA, the April edition of the Coca-Cola World
Ranking has brought movement to the top ten. Although the leading trio of
Spain, Germany and Argentina remain unchanged, they are now being pursued by
Croatia, who have climbed five places to fourth thanks to FIFA World Cup
qualifying wins against Serbia and Wales, equalling the position achieved when
they finished third at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
England (7th, down 3), Italy (8th, down 3) and the
Netherlands (9th, down 1) have all lost ground on the leaders. Meanwhile,
Ecuador (10th, up 1) have overtaken Russia (11th, down 1) and entered the top
ten for the first time thanks to wins against El Salvador and Paraguay.
In the top 50, Peru (32nd, up 9), Ukraine (37th, up 11),
Albania (48th, up 16) and Wales (49th, up 22) have all made excellent progress,
while outside the top 50, Equatorial Guinea (59th, up 45), Congo (77th, up 24),
Tajikistan (112th, up 40) and Kyrgyzstan (142nd, up 59) have each climbed more
than 20 places.
In addition to Ecuador, Venezuela (36th, up 7), Panama
(38th, up 3), Albania, Equatorial Guinea, Tajikistan and Afghanistan (139th, up
2) have all achieved their highest-ever ranking.
The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be released on May
9th.
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