SOCCER: Tanzania soars in Fifa rankings

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has moved seven places up in both the world and African rankings ahead of this month’s high-profile friendly match against Malawi in Mwanza.

The country is ranked 100th in the world from last month’s 107th, and 28th in Africa, according to the latest Fifa Coca-Cola rankings released yesterday.

Malawi, Tanzania’s opponents in the friendly set for March 29 at CCM Kirumba Stadium, has moved two places up in the world. It is now ranked 91st in the world and 26th in Africa.

Kenya has lost ground in the latest rankings after the slight improvement registered in last month’s rankings.

The East African country is now ranked 118th in the world after a drop by two places from position 116 held in February.

In Africa, the drop has also been reflected with the neighbouring country now placed 37th from the previous 36th place.

In the Cecafa region, Kenya has also dropped a place and is now ranked sixth behind Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan in that order.

European champion Spain has fallen out of the top 10 in FIFA’s rankings for the first time since 2007.

World Cup winner Germany is still No. 1 ahead of Argentina, Colombia, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The only change in the top 10 is that Italy has risen two places into 10th, while Spain drops one spot to 11th.

None of the elite teams played last month, but games played earlier in the four-year cycle of results lost ranking value.

Romania rises two places at No. 14 and could be seeded in July when European qualifying groups for the 2018 World Cup are drawn.

Costa Rica remains No. 13 to lead CONCACAF nations. The United States falls one spot to No. 32.