In the final FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking of 2016 released on 22nd December 2016, Uganda rose one spot from 73 to 72 having garnered 38 points that allowed for the jump.
Cranes head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic’s charges however maintained their first position in the CECAFA region ahead of neighbors Kenya who will not be competing in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and are placed 89th in the world.
Africa’s top five teams in the world remain unchanged with Senegal leading in position 33 ahead of Africa champions Ivory Coast who lie 34th,Tunisia who dropped one place (35) are the third best ranked team in the continent followed by Egypt (36) while Algeria (38) closes the top five best African teams while Uganda is the 18th best ranked team on the CAF block.
Cranes begin their Afcon 2017 campaign against Ghana on January 17 at Stade de Port Gentil before facing Egypt on January 21 at the same venue. Their last Group D tie is against Mali at the Stade d’Oyem on January 25.
And Lionel Messi’s Argentina will end the year on top of the world, leading the way with neighbours Brazil in second. La Albiceleste therefore take the ‘Team of the Year’ title from Belgium, who they overtook at the summit in April this year, and where they have stayed for the subsequent eight editions of the Ranking. In all, the Argentinians won ten of their 15 games in 2016, losing three and drawing twice.
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