Stars return to FIFA top 100

The latest Fifa football rankings will make very happy reading to Kenyans because their national team Harambee Stars are one of the most improved sides in the world.

After their recent success in the 2010 World Cup/African Nations Cup qualifiers, Kenya moved up an unprecedented 23 places and now stand as the 92nd best team in the world and 24th in Africa.

From recently one of the weakest Confederation of East and Central Africa Football Associations teams, Harambee Stars have climbed up the ladder to almost the top of the Cecafa region. Only Rwanda, at No.21 in Africa, are ranked ahead of Kenya.

The rest of the Cecafa nations come behind Kenya in the order of; Uganda (26), Ethiopia (30), Sudan (32), Tanzania (34), Burundi (39) and Eritrea (42), all of who were performing better than Kenya in continental and Cecafa football in as recently as just over six months ago. Djibouti at 49th and Somalia at 51st are the other teams in the region.

Burkina Faso, Swaziland and Cape Verde are the only African countries that made bigger leaps than Kenya in the latest rankings. Burkina Faso flew a massive 47 places to perch at the 64th team in the world and 12th in Africa, while Swaziland moved 38 places to 123rd in the world and 35th in Africa. Cape Verde moved 24 places to 85th in the world and 20th in Africa.

Kenya's marked improvement comes off recent 2-0 victories each over Guinea (7th in Africa, 39th in the world) and Zimbabwe (18th in Africa and 82nd in the world) and a 0-0 draw with Zimbabwe. Kenya play Namibia in Nairobi in September and Guinea in Conakry in October to conclude the first round of the 2010 World Cup/Nations Cup qualifiers.

Victories for Harambee Stars would put them in even a better position for the seeding of the second round of the qualifiers. The second round will be of five pools headed by the five top ranked teams in the continent. Currently they are; Cameroon (13th in world), Ghana (20), Egypt (24), Nigeria (26), Cote d'Ivoire (28).

Newly-crowned European champions Spain became the sixth nation to have ever occupied the No.1 Fifa rankings position. They jumped three places to head the table on which they are followed by Italy, Germany, Brazil, The Netherlands, Argentina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Portugal and France who complete the top 10.

Cameroon (13th in the world) the top African team are notably better than Euro semi-finalists Turkey (14), former world champions England (15) and Uruguay (22) and former European champions Greece (18) and Denmark (36).

Chinjili returns to Harambee Squad for Malawi tour

Striker Francis Chinjili has found his way back to the Kenya national soccer team and is in the party for this week's friendly tour to Malawi.

The much-travelled player is back at his Kenya Premier League club Mahakama which he had left to seek professional status in Oman. Before that Chinjili was recognised for his stint at Ethiopian giants St George's.

On Tuesday evening Chinjili was a starter in Mahakama's KPL midweek clash with one of the leading league sides, World Hope, at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The Kenya Football Federation (KFF) chief executive officer, Sammy Obingo released the 18-man squad for the Malawi tour which he said had been picked by coach Francis Kimanzi and his assistants.

But curiously, on Monday afternoon Kimanzi had said the KFF had not informed anything about the tour and at that time was unsure about any arrangements."I have no information whatsoever. Ask Sammy Obingo at KFF," the Harambee Stars coach had responded to inquiries.

The change of situation must have led to Kimanzi's quick action to put together a side. Apart from Chinjili, Kimanzi brings in KPL debutants Western Stima's first international this season; Augustine Etemesi, a scorer who has helped Stima to maintain a mid-table position. Another fresh cal-up is Joseph Njuguna, a KCB forward.

There is a return to the squad of Bandari midfielder Anthony Dafaa, for the first time after he played in last December's East and Central Africa Challenge Cup in Tanzania.

Kimanzi will have the services all Harambee Stars players based in the Middle East who took part in the team's recent 2010 World Cup/African Nations qualifying matches. Edgar Ochieng', Kevin Ochieng' and Monday Osborne are available and will go to Malawi. The rest of Kenya's foreign-based players are out. Kimanzi will have a perfect opportunity to build confidence in more home-based players by according them international experience.

Kenya's remaining two matches in the 2010 qualifiers are against Namibia in Nairobi in September and away to Guinea in October. Currently the second-placed Group Two team Kenya stands a good chance of entering next year's deciding round.

Kenya tour squad to Malawi:

Goalkeepers -1. Noah Ayuko (Sher Karuturi), 2. Jackton Odhiambo (Gor Mahia)

Defenders:3. Anthony Kimani Wanjohi (Mathare United), 4. Edgar Ochieng' Odhiambo (Dhosar - Oman), 5 Joseph Shikokoti Ebenzi (Tusker), 6. Lloyd Wahome Kinguru (Mathare United),7. John Njoroge Mwangi (Tusker), 8. Jockins Atudo (Sony).

Midfielders:9. Austin Charles Makacha (Mathare United), 10. Osborne Monday (Al Shabab - Oman), 11. Andrew Oyombe (Gor Mahia), 12. Levy Muaka (World Hope), 13. Kevin Ochieng' Opondo (Al Shabab - Oman), 14. Anthony Dafaa (Bandari)

Forwards:15. Francis Chinjili (Mahakama), 16. Francis Ouma (Mathare United), 17. Joseph Njuguna (KCB), 18. Augustine Etemesi (Western Stima)

Head coach: Francis Kimanzi

Assistant coaches: James Nandwa, Yusuf Chipo

Team manager: Peter Serry