Harambee Stars Surge in FIFA Ranking Despite Heavy Loss to Ivory Coast

Harambee Stars are still smarting from their 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Ivory Coast but they have seen their FIFA ranking improve.

Kenya were put to the sword by the African champions on Tuesday in their final 2026 World Cup qualifier in Abidjan but the result had no bearing on their FIFA ranking.

Instead, it is their 1-0 win over Burundi in Bujumbura last Thursday that helped their course as they have moved up two places on the FIFA ranking from the latest figures released by the world football governing body on Friday.

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From the latest update, Kenya have moved from position 111 to 109 on the FIFA ranking, improving their placing by two places, from the last update made in September.

Uganda are the best-placed East African team at position 83 followed by Tanzania at 107 and then Kenya, Rwanda at 131 while Burundi have dropped down four places to 145.

In Africa, Morocco remain the top country at position 12 globally, having dropped one place, Senegal second on the continent but 18th in the world, followed by Egypt, 32, up three places, Algeria, 35, up three places, while Nigeria complete the top five on the continent at position 41, having moved up four places.

In the world, Spain are top, followed by Argentina, France and England while Portugal completes the top five in the world.

Harambee Stars will be looking to play high-profile friendly matches to boost their rankings going forward while also preparing for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations now that they are out of AFCON 2025 and next year’s World Cup.