Warriors roar back into top hundred

moved three slots on the world rankings to storm into the world’s top 100 at position 99.
According to the rankings released by Fifa yesterday, Zimbabwe have accumulated 348 points and are now the 23rd best team in Africa.
They have moved a place up on their African ranking last month during which they had 341 points.
Zimbabwe, who suspended almost a whole generation of players from the national team assignments after they were fingered in the match fixing report, will have to work harder to regain a place among the top 50.
The Warriors’ next opponents, Burundi, are not smiling either as they fell two places to 143 in the world and 41st on the continent.
While Zimbabwe are still entangled in confusion over the state of their football because of lack of foresight by its leadership, Kalusha Bwalya’s Zambia are reaping the huge rewards, which saw them winning their first ever African Cup of Nations title.
With the euphoria of winning the Nations Cup final still gripping Zambia, the Chipolopolo who beat the highly fancied Cote d’Ivoire 8-9 on penalties are now ranked fourth on the Caf rankings.
This is the first time since February 2001 that Zimbabwe’s northern neighbours have reached the top 50.
Zambia have 630 points and are now the 43rd best team in the world after gaining a tremendous 28 places.
Nations Cup runners up Cote d’Ivoire remain the best ranked African team despite being stunned by Zambia to the coveted trophy.
The Ivorians, who were placed 18th last month, have moved to 15th position in the world with 967 while Ghana, who finished fourth at the Nations Cup, maintained their status as the second best African team.
Algeria are third while Nations Cup bronze medallists Mali are fifth.
Mali skipped 25 place on the Fifa rankings but it was co-hosts Gabon who were the biggest movers after jumping 46 places to sixth while Cameron who were seventh moved to 15th in Africa.
Botswana, who were the first team to qualify for the Nations Cup finals and also the first team to be knocked out tumbled 10 places on the world rankings.
Last month the Zebras were ranked above Zimbabwe in 94th but have dropped to 104 while the Equatorial Guinea moved a massive 41 places to 110.
There were no changes at the top of the table where Spain consolidated their position but Germany dislodged Netherlands in second position.
Results of 51 international matches were considered when Fifa compiled the latest rankings, with 32 of the games coming from the African Cup of Nations while 19 were international friendlies.