Kenya drops five places in latest men’s FIFA world rankings
Kenya dropped to position 105 in the latest FIFA (International Federation of Football Association) men’s world rankings released on June 29, 2023.
The country scored 1191.07 points, a drop down by 9.11 points. This was a drop from position 100 in the last rankings, further putting a dent on the country’s rating as a top footballing nation.
The drop is attributed to the lowly 1-0 loss the men’s national team Harambee Stars suffered to lowly Mauritius in the recent Port Louis friendly game.
The result had Kenyans complaining on social media with a section of them directing their fury at Coach Engin Firat.
Kenya also lost 2-1 to Iran and beat lowly Pakistan by a similar margin in her only other match since March 2023.
Despite being position 105 worldwide, among the African countries that FIFA ranked, Kenya placed second in the countries that associate under the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associaitions (Cecafa). The CECAFA rankings are as follows: Uganda at position 92, Kenya at position 105, Tanzania at position 123 and Sudan at position 131. Rwanda ranked fifth at position 139 while Burundi ranked sixth at position 140.
Ethiopia followed next in position 143 while South Sudan ranked eighth at position 168. Djibouti ranked globally at position 193 but position 9 under CECAFA while Eritrea ranked tenth at position 198. Somalia and Zanzibar ranked at position 11 and 12 respectively.
There are 211 countries associated under FIFA and the world ranking is updated monthly based on points system. Rankings are based on the FIFA recognized international games played in the course of four years and the average is determined. FIFA world rankings are important because they show the best national teams in the world.
According to FIFA stats, Kenya currently ranks at position 105. It’s highest ranking in history is position 69 while the lowest was position 137. The average ranking of Kenya is position 102.
Kenya’s drop in rankings comes at a time the government has unveiled an ambitious plan to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania and also qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Currently, Harambee Stars are using friendly matches to prepare for the 2026 FIFA Word Cup qualifiers which will kick off in November 2023. By July 12, 2023, the team will know if they made it to the qualification stage at a ceremony that will be held in Cotonou, Benin.
On the other hand, the female Kenyan national team ranked position 148 with 991.78 point and marked as a rising team. This is based on FIFA’s latest update from June 9, 2023. Their highest ranking was position 108 while the lowest was position 149, bringing their average ranking to position 135.
Also read: Pastor Ben to Brown Mauzo: Celebrities who’ve hired limousines to welcome their babies