The Gambia Scorpions have maintained their impressive stand in the latest world rankings released by football's world governing (FIFA), on Wednesday, Observer Sports can reveal.

The Scorpions, who move down from 16th to 17th position in the African ranking, remain at 83rd position in the global ranking for May 2008.

The Scorpions' current standing is the highest ranking in the country's football history.

In March 2006, The Gambia made the lowest FIFA ranking, when they were placed at 166th position in the global ranking. In September 2006, The Gambia were named the best movers when they climbed up from the bottom table to 38th position.

Ghana remain the top-ranked team on the continent, at 14th in the world while . The movements are largely technical, because fewer than 20 games have been played worldwide in the period taken into account.

Only the last four years are taken into account in producing the list, and games carry less weight the further they are into the past.

Read aside for The Gambia's ranking history.