The latest FIFA Rankings have been released, and it brings disappointing news for Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars.
The team has experienced a drop of three places, now sitting at position 105 compared to their previous position of 102 in April this year.
Harmbeee Stars in Four Nations
The decline follows Harambee Stars’ performance in the recent Four Nations Tournament, where they finished third under the leadership of coach Engin Firat.
During the tournament, Harambee Stars missed their opening match but secured a 1-0 victory over Pakistan in their second encounter.
However, their final match against host Mauritius ended in a 1-0 defeat. The tournament served as preparation for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Despite their recent drop in the FIFA Rankings, Harambee Stars continue to hold the title of the second-best team in the CECAFA (Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations) region.
Their neighbouring rivals, Uganda, still sit at the top of the regional standings, occupying the 92nd position in the global rankings. Meanwhile, Tanzania completes the CECAFA podium, securing the 123rd position.
Harambee Stars best and worst
Harambee Stars’ highest-ever ranking in history occurred in 2008 when they reached an impressive 68th position. On the other hand, their worst ranking was at position 137.
Globally, it is no surprise that the current world champions, Argentina, claim the top spot in the FIFA Rankings, closely followed by France, the runners-up in the previous World Cup.
Brazil, despite recent setbacks, maintains its position on the podium, while England and Belgium complete the top five.
Notable movements in the rankings include the United States, Mexico, Germany, and Scotland.
In Africa, Morocco’s national football team continues to assert its dominance, securing the 13th position in the FIFA Rankings.
Although this represents a slight decline from their previous 11th position, Morocco remains the highest-ranked team on the continent
Senegal follow closely as the second-best team in Africa, with Tunisia and Algeria not far behind.
How Ranking Works
FIFA’s new model, known as “SUM,” was implemented in August 2018 after approval by the FIFA Council.
This model calculates rankings by adding or subtracting points based on the outcome of each game, taking into consideration the relative strength of the opponents.
The logical expectation is that higher-ranked teams should fare better against lower-ranked teams.
