The Zimbabwe Warriors received a confidence booster ahead of their sink-or-swim 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Cape Verde Islands having risen eight places up the Fifa/Coca Cola World ranking and three places on the continent.
The Norman Mapeza-coached side, who beat Liberia 3-0 in a Nations Cup qualifier at National Sports Stadium, now occupy position 66 from 74 in August on the globe.
The senior national team is now 14 in Africa having garnered 490 points. Zimbabwe were ranked 17 on the continent last month
According to the latest Fifa/Coca-Cola ranking released yesterday, Spain dislodged Netherlands at the summit, but it is the Warriors’ continued rise that is interesting.
Zimbabwe’s other Group A opponents Mali, who currently lead the group with nine points, moved 19 places up the world ranking to position 62 and nine places up on the continent to position 12 having garnered 519 points.
The Warriors’ next opponents Cape Verde Islands dropped from position 71 in the world to 91 and they also dropped six places down the continental ranking to position 22 with 372 points.
The other team in the group Liberia, who fell to the Warriors in their last game, are ranked 33 on the continent and 127 in the world.
Zimbabwe’s lowest ever ranking in the world was 131 in October 2009 with their best being 40 in April 1995. Warriors coach Norman Mapeza said the latest ranking shows the progress the nation is making.
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“This is very encouraging. It (the ranking) shows that we are improving as a nation. We just need to keep up the momentum,” he said.
Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast remains the best-ranked African team in the world despite dropping one place down to position 16 having garnered 910 points while Egypt are second best in position 36, two places down with 713 points.
Neighbours South Africa dropped two places to position nine on the continent and also dropped four places to position 51 in the world having garnered 574 points.
World champions Spain dislodged Netherlands as the highest-ranked nation in the world having garnered 1 596 points with the Dutchmen accruing 1 563 points.
The Germans’ 1 290 points saw them remaining static in third position while Christiano Ronaldo’s Portugal moved three places up to position five.
Former champions Italy moved one place up to position six while former world leaders Brazil dropped one place down to position seven.
Fabio Cappelo’s England dropped to four places down the ladder to occupy to position eight while Lionel Messi’s Argentinadropped one position to occupy 10th place.
