Harambee Stars starting line up. PHOTO/FILE.
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14- National football team Harambee Stars registered a massive rise in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday, moving 43 places up to 85 from 128th last month.
Kenya’s massive rise is attributed to the 2-1 win over Congo Brazzaville in the 2017 African Cup of Nations Qualifier last month in Nairobi.
Also moving up is Guinea Bissau who moved 40 places up to 75th after qualifying for their first ever African Cup of Nations with a 3-2 win at home over Zambia who have since dropped nine places to 88th below Kenya.
Harambee Stars are now the second best placed team in the East African region behind Uganda who have moved three places up to 69th.
Neighbors Tanzania have moved 13 places up to 123rd, Burundi up seven places to 125th, Rwanda dropped eight places to 111th while Ethiopia have gone down seven places 132nd.
In the continent, Algeria retained their top spot despite remaining 32nd worldwide, Ivory Coast and Ghana have each moved one place up to 35th and 36th worldwide.
Worldwide, the top five status quo has been maintained with Argentina, Belgium Colombia, Germany and Chile remaining the world’s best five.
European champions Portugal have gone two places up to sixth while France who lost to the Portugal in the final have gone 10 places up to seventh.
Wales who reached the semi-finals of the European showpiece have moved 15 places up.
