We here at 2010 haven't looked at the FIFA world rankings in some time now. They're released every month, so let's take a peek and see where our friends in Africa rank with the world powers.
The Top Five of the August 2007 ranking are a Who's Who of world footballing giants, with Brazil ranked #1, followed by Argentina, 2006 winners Italy, 2006 finalists France and 2006 hosts Germany. Their positions are the same as the previous month.
The first African nation appears at #16 and Cameroon, who fell one place from 15th. Their spot is now occupied by Euro 2004 winners Greece.
Namibia were the month's biggest climbers, moving 12 places from 44th to 32nd. Burkina Faso also jumped higher, moving seven places and into the top 20 at 18.
Benin, who were the highest jumpers in July, moving up 18 places to 85th, continued to climb and moved another 6 places up to 79.
Ghana slipped some, dropping from 37th to 43rd, adding to their 18-place fall in July. They are now the 8th-best team on the continent, behind Nigeria, Tunisia and Egypt.
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Here's the complete list of African teams, with their world rankings in brackets:
1. Cameroon (16)
2. Nigeria (26)
3. Ivory Coast (28)
4. Morocco (34)
5. Tunisia (36)
6. Egypt (40)
7. Guinea(42)
8. Ghana (43)
9. Senegal (46)
10. Mali (48)
11. Angola (59)
12. Togo (60)
13. South Africa (61)
14. Zambia (62)
15. Cape Verde Islands (72)
16. Algeria (73)
17. DR Congo (75)
18. Burkina Faso (77)
19. Benin (79)
20. Mozambique (86)
21. Libya (87)
22. Ethiopia (92)
23. Botswana (96)
24. Uganda (98)
25. Congo (100)
26. Zimbabwe (101)
27. Tanzania (102)
28. Equatorial Guinea (105)
29. Gabon (107)
30. Malawi (111)
31. Burundi (113)
32. Namibia (114)
33. Sudan (117)
34. Liberia (120)
35. Rwanda (121)
36. Eritrea (121)
37. Gambia (128)
38. Kenya (132)
39. Mauritania (136)
40. Chad (139)
41. Lesotho (143)
42. Mauritius (144)
43. Niger (146)
44. Swaziland (147)
45. Seychelles (147)
46. Madagascar (163)
47. Sierra Leone (164)
48. Comoros (182)
49. Central African Republic (185)
50. Guinea-Bissau (188)
51. Somalia (192)
52. Djibouti (199)
53. Sao Tome e Principe (199)
** We at 2010 send our condolences to the family of Sevilla's Antonio Puerta.
Puerta, a midfielder for the two-time UEFA Cup winners, died of a heart attack at the tender age of 22 after collapsing on the field during Saturday's La Liga contest against Getafe.
Seeing Puerta struggling for air, his teammates trying to stop him from swallowing his tongue and then seeing him walk to the dressing room seemed surreal. But it looked like it was an isolated episode and he'd be ok.
Then word leaked that he wasn't ok, that he was fighting for his life in a Sevilla hospital, collapsing upon arrival to the dressing room and suffering another cardiac arrest.
This morning, Puerta lost his fight. 22 years old, a wonderful talent, a comfortable living and a pregnant girlfriend. And now, he's gone.
It's so sad to think about. Football brings us so much pleasure. But it can bring so much pain. The heart beating inside Puerta's body couldn't take the constant punishment of the game and ceased to work. He collapsed and the last shot we'll have of the young Spaniard will be him lying on the ground, trying to breathe.
I shrug my shoulders and sigh a deep sigh. For all my troubles, for all the pain I may be enduring or may have caused, at least I'm still here.
I wish you well, Antonio Puerta. Vaya con Dios ...
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