Malawi drop one step on FIFA rankings
Malawi national football team, the Flames, have dropped on the latest FIFA/Coca Cola World rankings released on Wednesday with a single step from position 72 to 73 in the world.
The Flames have also dropped from position 15 to 16 in Africa.
Analysts have attributed this drop to the team’s failure to play a friendly match against Mozambique earlier this month.
A soccer analyst who spoke to Nyasa Times said Malawi’s inactivity when the rest of the world was busy in strength testing matches and government’s lack of seriousness are the reasons for this marginal drop.
“This drop should serve as a lesson to FAM and government that if we continue missing out on friendly matches on Fifa calendar days, we will continue dropping on the rankings every time they are released. We have made strides over the past 2 years and we should build on that success and not sit on it,” he said.
The Flames failed to play against Mozambique because of government’s ban on all foreign trips. All arrangements were made by FAM but were told at the eleventh hour that the trip even applies to sports activities.
“The game against Tunisia on 3 September therefore is a must win match if we are to redeem ourselves on the rankings,” he added.
Ivory Coast remains the highest ranked African team at position 15 but has dropped one place.
Algeria has moved into the top 50. The Desert Foxes have moved up 6 places into 46th despite having not played a game since July’s rankings.
Netherlands have replaced Spain at the top. The world and European champions have dropped to second after losing ranking points in a friendly defeat to Italy.
Fifa ranking points are accumulated according to results, the importance of the matches played and the strength of the opposing teams.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
