ZURICH Zambia have climbed 28 places to 43rd in the FIFA world rankings after being crowned African Nations Cup champions on Sunday.
It is the first time since February 2001 that the team, coached by Herv Renard, have made it into the top 50.
Nineteen years after a plane crash which killed 18 members of their squad in Libreville, the Chipolopolo returned to the Gabon capital to record the most famous victory in the countrys history with an 8-7 penalty shootout win over Ivory Coast on Sunday.
The Ivorians remained Africas top team, up three places to 15th, while third-placed Mali climbed 25 spots to 44th.
Spain stayed top of the pile with Germany rising one place to second at the expense of Holland.
Portugal, Italy and Denmark climbed one spot each to sixth, eighth and 10th respectively, the latter pushing Argentina down to 11th position.
