Afghanistan jumps to 147th slot in FIFA ranking

KABUL (SW): The latest ranking announced by football’s international governing body FIFA has placed Afghanistan four slots ahead of its former place.

Prior to the latest FIFA ranking’s revelation, Afghanistan, by winning over Singapore 2-1, jumped from 151 to 147^th slot. Relative good performance in this match played in Iran on March 29 piled Afghanistan’s total points to 210. The Afghans however, failed to resist against the Asian giant Japan in a one-sided 0-5 game.

The 2014’s FIFA World Cup runners-up Argentina are the new team at the top, according to the April 2016 edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking announced on Thursday.

Argentina, also called as ‘La Albiceleste’s’ recent performances in World Cup qualifying have helped them end Belgium’s five-month-long reign at the summit of football’s world ranking which began when the Red Devils snatched pole position from Argentina back in November 2015. Close behind, Chile move into third (up two places), Colombia fourth (up four) and Uruguay jump to ninth (up two) to strengthen the South American grip on the top ten.

A total of 171 games have been taken into account for the April edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, which includes 51 qualifiers for Russia 2018, 60 continental qualifiers and 60 international friendlies.  

Costa Rica (25th, up eight), Turkey (13th, up seven) and Mexico (16th, up six) have all enjoyed impressive gains near the top for April. A little further down the table, Australia (50th, up 17), Egypt (44th, up nine) and Norway (49th, up two) break into the top 50 at the expense of Trinidad and Tobago (53rd, down four), Serbia (55th, down five) and Finland (61st, down 15).

As per Afghanistan’s women team, though it has not featured in any game lately, it has been ranked 130^th.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 5 May 2016.

ENDS