Harambee Stars leapfrog Tanzania in latest FIFA rankings
By Joel Masibo, April 1, 2026Kenya’s national football team, the Harambee Stars, have climbed above Tanzania in the latest FIFA rankings following their emphatic victory over Grenada in the just-concluded FIFA Series in Kigali, Rwanda.
According to the latest global rankings released by the world football governing body, FIFA, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Kenya has climbed two steps up, from 113 to 111.
This comes shortly after a commanding 3-0 win against Grenada on Monday, March 30, 2026, which has given Benni McCarthy’s men a valuable boost in the updated standings.
Against Grenada, the result saw Austin Odhiambo, Ryan Ogam, and Zech Obiero all find the back of the net, helping the team finish third in the four-nation FIFA Series tournament.
Although the Harambee Stars earlier suffered a setback after losing to Estonia on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time, that result had minimal impact on their ranking, costing them only a small number of points. In contrast, the victory over Grenada added significantly to their tally, pushing them to 1,182.23 points.
As a result of these outcomes, Kenya has moved up two places globally to 111, overtaking Tanzania, which slipped to 113 after a loss to Liechtenstein that affected their points total. Uganda continues to lead the East African region at 88th in the world rankings.
Elsewhere, Rwanda improved their position after winning the FIFA Series, while Estonia remained unchanged despite their performance in the tournament. On the global stage, France has taken over the top spot from Spain, with traditional powerhouses such as Argentina, England, Portugal, Brazil, and others rounding out the top tier.
In Africa, Morocco remains the highest-ranked nation, followed by Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, and Egypt.
Right direction
Meanwhile, the slight improvement in the FIFA rankings for Harambee Stars comes shortly after head coach Benni McCarthy explained why Kenyans can afford to dream despite the team’s third-place finish in the concluded FIFA Series tournament.
With the focus now shifting toward preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), McCarthy revealed his elation with several players who earned their first minutes in national team colours.
“I have been happy with the debutants; most of them have been outstanding. Frank was one of the best players over the two games. Zech was very positive in offensive play. He has been a breath of fresh air and a good addition. Clarke should have had one of the easiest goals to score, but unfortunately, he couldn’t get it,” he said after Kenya jetted back into the country on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.