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FIFA Rankings : Cameroon, Africa’s Number One (20.12.2005)
The Indomitable Lions are still Africa’s top team in the latest FIFA rankings published yesterday.
If we have to go by the latest rankings of national teams by the world football governing body, FIFA, published yesterday, then the Indomitable Lions are still a force to reckon with in Africa. Despite their failure to qualify for the World Cup finals in Germany, Cameroon’s national football team occupy the 23rd position; the best by an African team. It is closely followed by Nigeria (24th) and Tunisia (28th).
For the fourth year in a row, Brazil, world champion, grabbed the Top Team title after finishing the year at the top of the table with 44 points clear of their nearest competitor, a position they resiliently held on to for the entire year. The Czech Republic, finishing in second position, bettered their end-of-2004 ranking by two positions. Other notable movers within the top ten include the Netherlands (3rd, up 3 ranks on 2004), Mexico (5th, up 2) and the USA (8th, up 3), who made it to their highest ever ranking
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position(6th) in July of this year.
The first Asian team in the FIFA classification is Japan (15th), while Ghana (50th) has won the race for the Best Mover title. The Black Stars, who qualified for their first World Cup two months ago, moved up 27 places to finish 2005 in 50th position. Their almost continual ascent up the rankings gained them 80 points. They recorded five wins, including a 2-0 win over continental heavyweights, South Africa in Johannesburg, three draws and not a single defeat in matches relevant to Fifa`s world rankings. Also worthy of note is their creditable performance in a friendly against African giants and former World Cup quarter-finalists, Senegal, which ended in a goalless draw.
"To be given this award by FIFA is a great joy for the people of Ghana," Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah told BBC Sport yesterday. "This award is a big encouragement for us to work harder at next year`s African Nations Cup and the World Cup", the captain continued.
The next classification will be on 18 January, 2006.
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