Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan have all dropped in the latest FIFA World Ranking for the month of March released on Thursday 7, with Burundi and Sudan being the only notable gainers in the region.

Kenya and South Sudan were the biggest losers dropping 12 and 15 places to positions 115 and 182 in that order. This can largely be attributed to the poor show by the teams in the 2017 Nations Cup Qualifiers in which Kenya lost to Guinea Bissau 1-0 in both legs while South Sudan fell 2-1 at home and 4-1 away to Benin.

Uganda remains the best ranked in the region at 72 but have maintained the downward spiral, this time dropping 5 steps. Cranes lost 1-0 to Burkina Faso away before settling for a barren draw at home in the race to Gabon 2017 Nations Cup.

Despite thrashing Mauritius 5-0 in the second leg of the Nations Cup qualifiers, Rwanda still dropped two places to position 87 – Amavubi lost the first stanza 1-0. Ethiopia who held Algeria 3-3 at home after a 7-1 obliteration away has moved three positions downwards to 123, and so is Tanzania at 130, five steps backwards.

Burundi who avenged a 3-1 first leg loss to Namibia with a similar scoreline defeat in the reverse tie at home climbed seven places to position 122, while Sudan moved six positions to 129.

Algeria is the best in Africa and are ranked 33 in the World followed closely by African Champions Ivory Coast at 34, Ghana (38), Senegal (43) with Egypt closing the top five at position (44).

Argentina, Belgium and Chile are best ranked teams in the world in the order.

@bonfaceosano

Bonface Osano

African Football Writer contributing @Soka25east | Commentator; appeared on @MySoccerAfrica, @KweseSports, @ntvkenya, others | Keen follower of African Football. E-mail: bonfaceosano@gmail.com