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Rwanda moves 10 places up in latest FIFA rankings

Xinhua, January 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

The year begins on a good note for Rwandan football with the nation improving by 10 places to 91st in the latest Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) rankings.

The country, which has consistently dropped places in previous FIFA rankings, surprised the Rwanda local football governing body and football enthusiasts after learning of the latest position in the global football ranking.

With 375 points, Rwanda is now ranked 23rd on the African continent ahead of giants Togo, Angola and Malawi among others, according to the latest report released by the World soccer governing body on Thursday.

Belgium maintains the number one slot with 1,494 points, followed by Argentina (1,455), Spain (1,370), world champions, Germany (1,347) and Chile (1,273) in the top five positions respectively.

In East Africa, Rwanda ranks second after Uganda, Burundi (3rd) and 110th globally, Kenya (4th), and 101st, and Tanzania (last), and 126th worldwide.

The ranking was realised ahead of the 2016 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) which is hosted by Rwanda mid January.

The fourth edition of CHAN will kick off from January 16 and run until February 7. It will be held in the Capital Kigali stadiums and as well as the major towns of Huye and Gisenyi.

"The report motivates our country and national soccer team players to aim for the top position in Africa and as well on the global level. We want to win more and more games either in CHAN or in other international soccer tournaments. Our national soccer team "Amavubi" can do better and I believe we will achieve our target," Vincent Nzamwita, president of Rwanda Football Association (FERWAFA), told reporters on Thursday.

The ranking comes as a boost for Amavubi coach Johnny McKinstry who on the same day named his Amavubi squad to start preparation ahead of the 2016 CHAN tournament.

Amavubi are in Group A alongside Gabon, Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire.

The other teams are Tunisia, Nigeria, Niger, Guinea, DR Congo, Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Mali, Uganda and Zambia. Endit