October 26, 2018
By Sahr Morris Jnr
Leone Stars
Sierra Leone national team, Leone Stars, has continued it’s back-peddling in the latest FIFA World Rankings, released on Thursday, 25 October, 2018.
In Thursday’s release by the world football governing body, FIFA, Sierra Leone drops to 115th position from the 114th position in September.
The team’s last outing in competitive football match came in 1-0 defeat to Ethiopia on September 9 at the Hawassa Stadium in the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier, whiles their African Nations Cup qualifiers against Ghana was called off after the country’s FA failed to get a FIFA suspension lifted.
FIFA confirmed last week that Sierra Leone will remain suspended until the alleged corruption trial against Madam Isha Johansen and Chris Kamara concludes.
Meanwhile, Madagascar, who earlier this month qualified for their first African Nations Cup finals, climbed into the top 100 for the first time since 2002. They were ranked 100th.
Tunisia, 22nd, ranked the highest in Africa and Iran, 30th, the top Asian side. Sierra Leone now ranked the 29th best team on the continent.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone group opponent, Kenya raised two places up in the classification. The Harambee Stars are now in 105, up from 107 following their 0-0 result in Bahir Dar and 3-0 win in Nairobi against neighbours Ethiopia in back-to-back 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group “F” qualifying matches held on October 10 and October 14 respectively.