Warriors slump on Fifa rankings

Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
THE Warriors slumped on the Fifa rankings by two places as they are now ranked a disappointing 116 in the world and 32nd in Africa. Zimbabwe are on a decline on the rankings, sliding from 102 to 114 last month. The writing has always been on the wall that the Warriors will fall after their 2-4 loss to Egypt in a World Cup qualifier, the worst performance at home since Independence and another loss to Guinea in which they went down 0-1 a week later.

Reaching the final of the Cosafa Cup did not improve their rankings as they were beaten 2-0 in the final by Zambia.

Unless something happens and Zifa manages to get international friendly matches that will be recognised by Fifa, all indications point to a historical below 131 rankings for the boys who at one time during the reverred Dream Team era under the late Reinhard Fabisch were among  Africa’s top 10 teams.

Botswana who were ranked below Zimbabwe in July moved 15 places up the ladder from 116 in the world to 101 and were also on the rise in Africa as they are now on position 26 from last month’s 33.

Former African champions Zambia who play Zimbabwe in the first leg of the final Chan qualifier at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday remained glued on position 10 in Africa and 60 in the world.

The match against Zambia will be Ian Gorowa’s second home game in charge of the Warriors and Zimbabwe will be hoping to beat Chipolopolo so that they are better positioned for the second leg.

Gorowa is likely to use the encounter as part of his preparations for the dead-rubber World Cup qualifier against Mozambique next month. The only significance for the Mozambique game is to collect maximum points and that might work in Zimbabwe’s favour for the October rankings.

Sources at Zifa said the football motherbody was working on getting the Warriors a friendly match against South Africa on a Fifa calendar date before the 8 September game against Mozambique.

South Africa also slipped on the rankings and might consider playing Zimbabwe.

The Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela could neither deny nor confirm that they have approached Safa for a possible match with Bafana Bafana.
“When the position is clear we are going to issue a statement,” Gwesela said.