ZIMBABWE’S proposed international friendly against Lesotho has been thrown into uncertainty after South Africa tied them down for a practice match in Maseru on June 1.
Report by Sports Reporters
Zifa had written to Lesotho seeking a friendly match ahead of the Warriors 2014 World Cup qualifier against Egypt next month.
But while Zifa are still waiting for a response from their proposed opponents, Lesotho will be playing Bafana Bafana on 1 June — three days before the Fifa international friendly day.
Lesotho are preparing for their World Cup qualifiers against Ghana and Zambia.
Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze could not be reached for comment, but Zifa board member (competitions) Benedict Moyo said they were still talking to Lesotho and were expecting a response.
“We are saying we need at least two friendly matches before we play Egypt. We will play Malawi and we have proposed another friendly against Lesotho. We wrote to them recently to inform them we are prepared to play against them on a date which suits them as long as it is before we play against Egypt,” said Moyo.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have continued their free-fall on the Coca-Cola Fifa rankings after results released yesterday showed that they have moved four places down the ladder.
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According to figures released by Fifa in Zurich yesterday, the Warriors moved from 101 last month to 105 on the world stage. On the Caf rankings, the Klaus Pagels-coached side moved one rung down to position 29.
Zimbabwe were beaten 2-0 by Zambia last month in a friendly match, hence their fall on the current rankings.
The defeat in Lusaka was their second straight loss after they lost 2-1 away to Egypt in a World Cup qualifier on 26 March.
This is the Warriors’ worst ranking this year after maintaining 100 position in the first two months of the year before the defeat in Alexandra.
