With the release of latest FIFA rankings, Nepal leads the South Asian region climbing up to the 136th position. Nepal has climbed 12 spots in the FIFA ranking list published on Wednesday that is released every month by football’s world governing body FIFA. Nepal ascended to the 136th position collecting 184 points, and in the South Asia, Bangladesh is the next following Nepal at 147.

India has slipped six places and is ranked 153 in the world rankings and third in South Asia. Nepal and Bangladesh are the only two countries in the South Asian region to ascend in the FIFA rankings whereas Bhutan remains unchanged at the bottom at rank 201 and all other remaining five countries have fallen back.

According to the latest FIFA rankings, ranks of South Asian countries are: –

Nepal – 136

Bangladesh – 147

India – 153

Maldives – 160

Pakistan – 171

Sri Lanka – 176

Afghanistan – 179

Bhutan – 201

 

In the history, Nepal’s new ranking is the second best. The first best, the highest ranking was 124 that Nepal had achieved from December 1993 to February 1994. The lowest ranking was in February 2008 when Nepal declined to 188.

In Zonal ranking among 46-member nations of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Nepal ranks 20.  On the basis of three international matches played recently by Nepal within a month, Nepal has achieved this new improved ranking though Nepal lost against Jordan with a huge margin last week. Nepal  was able to defeat East Timor 2-1 and 5-0 in two legs of the first round of 2014 World Cup Asian zone qualifying matches.

Meanwhile on Thursday, Nepal managed to hold Jordon to 1-1 draw in the second leg of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers played at the Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu.