By James Robert Kayindi
Uganda has fallen by two places according to the latest FIFA rankings that put the Cranes in the 73rd position out of the 209 member nations that are affiliated to the world’s football governing body.
The Cranes fell from the 71st position which they held for two months (May and June) to being the 73rd with 467 points as of the rankings released today at the body’s (FIFA) headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
The rankings come just two days after Uganda lost 1-0 to Malawi in their most recent international friendly where Cranes head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic fielded mostly Under-23 players.
Within the same period, Uganda claimed victories against Botswana in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers and against Tanzania in the CHAN qualifiers during the first leg in Zanzibar before a one-all draw in Kampala.
Despite the fall, Uganda remains top of the CECAFA log with Rwanda in second place. The Amavubi Stars rose by 16 places to 78th while Sudan rose by 18 places to 90th.
Meanwhile, the Taifa Stars of Tanzania dropped by 12 slots to number 139th whereas Algeria remained Africa’s number one (19th in the world) followed by Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Uganda’s 2017 AFCON qualifiers opponents Burkina Faso, Botswana and Comoros are ranked 72nd, 120th and 187th respectively.
Argentina frog jumped Germany to become number one while Belgium come in the third spot followed by Colombia and Netherlands.
The next FIFA Rankings will be released on 9th August 2015.
Email Robert: Robert.k.circles@gmail.com