KABUL (SW): In the latest FIFA ranking, Afghanistan has fallen by nine slots from 147 to 156th.
According to FIFA, Argentina have maintained their position on the top of the chart this month as well with a score of 1503 points (1503.35). Belgium also kept their number 2 position intact with a score of 1384 points (1383.71) followed by Colombia with a score of 1328 points (1328.16).
Among the South Asian nations, Afghanistan stands at 156th position with 184 points (183.53), India at 163rd position with 151 points (150.94), Maldives at 174th position with 115 points (114.85),and Bangladesh stand at 181st position with 93 points (93.08) above Nepal.
The decline in ranking would force Afghanistan to compete in third tier of qualifiers for the Asia Cup matches against the previous second tier. Afghanistan has been left behind by the team of the like of New Zealand, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Grenade, Lebanon, São Tomé e Príncipe, Dominican Republic, Curacao and Lesotho.
A major reason for this drip in ranking has been the fact that the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) failed to organize a single international game for the national squad in the previous month. On the regional fronts, Afghanistan remains on 24th slot in Asia, on top in South Asia but on fifth place in Central Asian zone.
It is worth noticing that countries like Malaysia, Tajikistan and India are busy in qualifying rounds for the Asia Cup and if they displayed good performance and Afghanistan remains idle, it would further lose its standing in the international arena.
ENDS
