Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Recently crowned AFC Challenge Cup champions Palestine have jumped to 94th in the latest edition of the FIFA World Ranking, their highest ever position.
Palestine won the last edition of the AFC Challenge Cup held in the Maldives after beating the Philippines 1-0 on May 30 and clinched the last ticket available for the AFC Asian Cup 2015 to be held in Australia.
FIFA’s website reports Palestine as having made the biggest move both in terms of points (up 270 points) and ranks (up 71 ranks).
“Special mention must be made of Palestine (94th, up 71), whose four wins and one draw secured them the AFC Challenge Cup together with participation in a continental final competition for the first time, the AFC Asian Cup, due to be held in Australia next January,” says FIFA.com.
“As a result, Palestine have achieved their highest-ever position in the ranking, as have Aruba (120th, up 35), Azerbaijan (83rd, up 2), Montserrat (166th, up 22) and South Sudan (185th, up 16).”
After the AFC Challenge cup win which was celebrated throughout the nation, Palestinian FA President General Jibril Rajoub hailed the victory saying it was the best ever day in Palestine's football history.
The latest ranking took into account the results of 112 “A” international matches with 67 friendly matches plus continental qualifiers across the globe being played up to May 30.