THE Warriors, still reeling from their loss to Tanzania on Sunday, which sent them crashing out of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), have dropped one place on the Fifa Coca-Cola World football rankings with The Taifa Stars emerging the major beneficiaries of that stumble by Ian Gorowa’s men.
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
According to the rankings released by Fifa yesterday, the Warriors are now ranked number 99 in the world and 26 in Africa.
The Warriors lost 1-0 to Tanzania in the first leg of the 2015 Afcon qualifiers before being held to a 2-2 draw at home to bow out of the race for Morocco where the continental tourney will be held.
It was one of the Warriors’ worst performance in this campaign and Tanzania were the major beneficiaries of the stumble as they have advanced to the next round of the qualifiers in which they will meet Mozambique, who triumphed over South Sudan.
Apart from that, the Taifa Stars surprisingly leapt to 120 on the global ladder. They moved nine places up to 32 in Africa and 113 in the world.
As Zimbabwe are still contemplating another two years without international football, Zifa president Cuthbert Dube, his deputy Omega Sibanda and chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze are expected to leave for Brazil this weekend for the 64th Fifa congress.
From the countries that will be taking part in the World Cup in Brazil in a week’s time, Algeria were the biggest movers after jumping three places to take pole position in Africa and number 22 in the world, while Ivory Coast dropped two places to find themselves in second position in Africa and 23 in the world.
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Despite dropping a massive 12 places on the ladder, Egypt, who will watch the global soccer showpiece from home, claimed third place in Africa and 36th in the world.
Ghana, who will be one of the five countries to take part in the World Cup, jumped one place on the ladder to fourth in Africa and 37th in the world. Although Cape Verde will not be at the World Cup table with the big boys, they jumped three places to fifth position in Africa and 39th in the world above seasoned campaigners Nigeria.
Nigeria remained static on sixth in Africa and 44th in the world. However, Cameroon, also perennial campaigners at the World Cup, plunged six places to 10th position in Africa and 56th in the world.
Defending World Cup champions Spain remained number one in the world, while Germany remained static in second place. Brazil leapt one place on the ladder to third position.
Portugal dropped one place, but are fourth with Argentina and Switzerland gaining two places up the ladder to take fifth and sixth position respectively.
Uruguay dropped one place and are seventh while Colombia dropped three places to claim eight position with Italy remaining static on ninth position while England made the top 10 after climbing one place up.
