Doha, February 15 (QNA) - Qatar national football team two-time Asian Cup winners (37th, up 21) chalk up the biggest tally (92.04 points) bringing its overall total to 1,99.34 in FIFA ranking after capitalising on home comforts to successfully defend their continental crown.

The Qatari team came in third place in the Arab world and fifth in Asia, after Japan (18), Iran (20), South Korea (22) and Australia (23).

The Qatari team, which achieved its highest position in the history of the world rankings, was able to maintain its continental title by winning the Asian Cup for the second time in its history, maintaining its record undefeated throughout 14 consecutive matches in two editions of the Asian Cup.

There was no change in the list of the top ten in the world rankings, as the Argentine national team maintained the lead, the French national team took second place, the English national team came third, the Belgium national team ranked fourth, Brazil ranked fifth, then the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Croatia national teams, respectively.

Indeed, across the two continents, no fewer than six teams have scaled ten places or more. Amongst the African sides, Côte dIvoire (39th, up 10) reap the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil, secured following an eventful tournament campaign. Beaten finalists Nigeria (28th, up 14) make significant strides but are no match for the Angola side they ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), who are the biggest climbers in the latest instalment of the global ranking.

Elsewhere, Jordan (70th, up 17), who were edged out in the final, make good ground, as do Thailand (101st, up 12), whose journey came to an end at the last-16 stage.

Moroccan national team maintained its lead in the African national team rankings despite its failure in the African Nations Championship and its exit in the the last-16 stage, and ranked 12th in the world, while the Egyptian national team fell 3 places to become in 36th place, and the Tunisian national team also declined to occupy 41st place, while the Algerian national team came in 43rd place.(QNA)