Kenya rises in FIFA world rankings

Kenya has been ranked position 99 in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, rising two places from last month’s ranking.

The ranking released on February 4th, 2016 sees Belgium maintain top spot while Argentina, Spain, Germany and Chile are the other four countries in the top five list.

The logic applied in the calculations is simple: any team that does well in world football wins points which enables it to climb the world ranking. A team’s total number of points over a four-year period is determined by adding the average number of points gained from matches during the previous 12 months and the average number of points gained from matches older than 12 months (depreciates yearly).

Kenya recorded its lowest FIFA rank last year during the month of October (131) while its highest rank was at December (98).

Since the introduction of FIFA World Ranking in 1993, Kenya’s best ever rank is position 68 which came in 2008 while the country recorded a low of 134 in the year 2012. On average, Kenya’s FIFA rank is 102.

African countries performed poorly in the latest rankings with six of the continent’s top 10 performers dropping by at least five positions each. Ivory Coast was ranked the best African country at position 28 although it dropped by nine positions.

Fresh from their triumph at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, the USA have reclaimed pole position in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking, relegating Germany to second place.

The two heavyweights in women’s football went toe-to-toe in the semi-finals in Montreal, with the Americans prevailing to secure the top slot.

The next FIFA updated list of Men’s ranking will be released on March 3rd, 2016.