Harambee Stars drop in FIFA rankings despite Russia draw

FOOTBALL Harambee Stars drop in FIFA rankings despite Russia draw

Festus Chuma 11:39 - 26.10.2023

Kenya's national football team dropped in the latest FIFA Rankings, despite recent strong performances, including a draw with Russia.

Kenya has experienced a setback, dropping one place in the latest FIFA Rankings released by the world football governing body. 

According to FIFA's latest rankings released on Thursday, Harambee Stars now sit at the 110th spot, accumulating a total of 1186.85 points.

Harambee Stars had been riding a wave of hope after a remarkable 2-2 draw against Russia in an international friendly played on October 16 in Turkey.

However, their fall in the rankings may be attributed to their earlier 1-0 loss to South Sudan, which was a bitter disappointment.

Just before the South Sudan encounter, they had triumphed with a 2-1 victory over Qatar in another international friendly.

Despite their drop in the global rankings, Harambee Stars are still holding their ground as the second-best team in the CECAFA (Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations) region.

Looking ahead, Harambee Stars have their sights set on the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, which are just around the corner.

Engin Firat's men have been drawn into Group F, alongside Seychelles, Burundi, Gambia, Gabon, and Côte d’Ivoire. These qualifiers are scheduled to take place between November 13 and November 21, 2023.

The stakes are high, as the group winners will secure direct qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Additionally, the four best runners-up from the groups will advance to the CAF (Confederation of African Football) Play-Off tournament.

The ultimate victor of this tournament will secure a coveted spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding an extra layer of competition and excitement to the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, in the FIFA Rankings, Morocco continues to maintain its position as the top-ranked team on the African continent, securing the 13th spot globally.

They are followed closely by Senegal at 20th place and Tunisia at 32nd place, rounding out the leading three countries in Africa. T

On the global stage, Argentina continues to hold a healthy lead with 8.18 points over their closest challengers, France.

Les Bleus have solidified their grip on second place, extending the gap to an impressive 40.91 points between themselves and Brazil, who now sit in third place.

Brazil's recent performances, including being held to a 1-1 draw at home against Venezuela and suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Uruguay, have opened the door for England, who are now breathing down their necks in fourth place.

Belgium rounds out the top five, making the global rankings an exciting battleground for top-tier football nations. 

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