TANZANIA have risen eight places in the latest FIFA Ranking table which is led by World Cup champions Spain. According to the rankings released in Zurich, Switzerland, Tanzania moved up to 119th position in the World after raking up 263 points.
The country occupy 33rd slot on the continent. Tanzania's latest jump contradicts the fact that the national soccer team, Taifa Stars, have not played a match during the March edition.
A total of 18 'A' international matches have been taken into account for this month's ranking. Virtually all of the games in recent weeks have been played in the AFC, with 15 of the 18 games being AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers.
The country derisively suffered a slide in the latest FIFA World Football Rankings in the February edition despite a high-profile win over former African champions Cameroon. The Taifa Stars had edged out the Indomitable Lions 1-0 in an international friendly match played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on February 6.
With the match falling on FIFA's date for international friendlies and the former Africa champions ranked 57 places above Tanzania prior to the fixture, most observers had expected the latter to scale a few places up the ladder.
Ironically, the Taifa Stars slipped three places to rest on 127th position in the world, while dropping from 36th to 37th on the continent despite the friendly win over a considerably superior opponent. Morocco who face Taifa Stars in the forthcoming World Cup qualifier have dropped three places to rest on 77th position.
East and Central African compatriots Sudan were the biggest drop by ranks after slipping down 23 ranks to occupy 127th position. The latest edition reveals very few changes in the upper reaches, with Spain continuing to hold a comfortable lead at the top over Germany and Argentina.
Colombia, however, have assumed outright sixth place on the global ladder - a position they shared with Portugal, who drop down a slot. Ivory Coast remained the No 1 team in Africa.
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