Lesotho has moved up 14 places to 148th in Fifa’s latest world rankings released today. The ranking is Lesotho’s highest since a same 148 ranking in March last year.
The improved ranking comes courtesy of Lesotho’s Fifa World Cup preliminary qualifying success over Burundi last week. Likuena won the tie 3-2 on aggregate to progress to the group stage of 2014 World Cup qualifying.
Lesotho defeated Burundi 1-0 in the first leg at home thanks to a Lehlomela Ramabele goal. The result was Likuena’s first competitive international win since a 3-1 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier victory over Niger in March 2007.
In the second leg Lesotho took a 2-0 first half lead through Thapelo Tale and Bokang Mothoana. The hosts rallied to draw 2-2 but couldn’t stop Likuena progressing to a group alongside Ghana, Zambia and Sudan.
In August Lesotho’s ranking dropped to an all-time low 185th.
This was mainly thanks to the disbanding of the team last February by the Lesotho Football Association. Lefa said it would focus instead on the country’s youth team to rebuild for the future. As a result Lesotho did not take part in the 2012 Afcon qualifiers and only returned to the international fold three months ago.
The top three in Fifa’s ranking table meanwhile has remained unchanged. World champions Spain remain top of the tree followed by the Netherlands and Germany.
In fourth place is Copa America champion Uruguay with England fifth and Brazil sixth.
*Matches played in the past month
| Date | Match | Type | Points |
| 15/11 | Burundi 2-2 Lesotho | Fifa World Cup Qualifier | 126.85 |
| 11/11 | Lesotho 1-0 Burundi | Fifa World Cup Qualifier | 380.55 |
| 06/11 | Lesotho 0-3 DR Congo | Friendly | 0.00 |
| 31/10 | Namibia 0-0 Lesotho | Friendly | 62.78 |
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