AUSTRALIA have been punished for throwing away their two goal lead against Kuwait in their Asian Cup qualifier last month by slipping two spots in the latest FIFA rankings.
The Socceroos lost ground from 21st place to 23rd after drawing 2-2 with Kuwait in Kuwait City last month.
Nigeria and Egypt both leapfrogged Australia in the wake of the African Cup of Nations, with Egypt soaring 14 places to 10th spot after beating the Socceroos' World Cup rival Ghana in the final. Nigeria went up seven spots to 15th.
The top remianed unchanged in anotherwise quiet internation spell of fixtures, with Spain still topping the list, followed by Brazil, Holland, Italy, Portugal and Germany.
Australia are still the number one ranked team in Asia, wth Japan at 40 and Korea at 49. Kuwait moved up 12 places to 92nd.