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Bukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
THE senior men’s soccer national team has moved four places up in the Fifa rankings from 112 to 108.
It seems the 2-1 away win against Malawi in the opening match of the Afcon qualifiers was enough to catapult the Warriors to 108, which happens to be their highest ranking so far in 2015.
Despite making a steady leap on the international stage, the Warriors, ranked 31 in Africa should brace for a massive drop due to non participation in the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
Zifa bungling cost Zimbabwe an opportunity to participate in the global showpiece qualifiers, a move that will hit hard on the national team’s rankings as well as players.
Since the Warriors will only be competing in the Afcon qualifiers, the other route to earn classification points for Zimbabwe is to organise friendly matches against better ranked nations on the Fifa calendar dates.
Zifa spokesman Xolisani Gwesela could not be drawn into commenting about a possibility of organising friendly matches for the national team but said Warriors’ rise is a good development for Zimbabwean soccer.
“It’s a good thing to move up the ladder but we need to work extra hard to reach the top. Being among the world’s top 50 and moving into Africa’s top 10 is what we want hence the need to continue working hard and posting positive results,” he said.
Zifa’s view is too ambitious for an organisation that has struggled to raise funds for its teams.
Nation Dube, the caretaker Young Warriors coach said Zimbabwe has potential to be listed among the best footballing nations and could achieve that feat if the national team plays more Fifa recognised games.
“It’s actually flattering to notice that we’re making progress despite all the drama our football is going through at the moment. It shows that we’ve potential and if we were to put our house in order we would be somewhere higher,” Dube said.
Zimbabwe’s highest ever Fifa ranking was position 40 in the world which was obtained in April 1995 while the lowest was 131 in October 2009.
Algeria is the top African team, occupying the 19th spot in the world
followed by Cote d’Ivoire who remained glued on position 21.
Southern African countries in the Fifa top 100 are South Africa (72), Zambia (73), Angola (89), Mozambique (97) and Malawi (98).
Online Reporter