Cranes move up to 84 in FIFA rankings

By Ronald Musoke

Uganda’s national football team, the Cranes have moved up two places from 86th in November to 84th in the year-closing FIFA/Coca-Cola soccer rankings.

Despite winning the CECAFA Challenge Cup for the record 13th time, the Cranes did not accumulate any additional points and as such remained with the same points (428) as last November according to the rankings released Dec. 19 by the soccer world governing body.

Although the Cranes remain 22 on the continent, they remain the highest ranked nation in the region followed by The Sudan (101), Burundi (104), and Tanzania (130).

Meanwhile, at the top of the FIFA rankings are reigning world and European champions Spain.

Spain finished the year atop the 207 FIFA member roster for the fifth successive year—an achievement which earns them the ‘Team of the Year’ title.

However, for record world champions Brazil who have been on a downward spiral over the couple of years, they finish the year in 18th position, just behind the less illustrious nations like Ivory Coast, Greece and Switzerland.Cranes move up to 84 in FIFA rankings