THE MIGHTY Warriors have dropped to 104 in the latest Fifa rankings, the team’s lowest position in one-and-a-half decades. The Rosemary Mugadza-coached side, who face World Cup finalists Ivory Coast in an Olympic qualifier at the weekend, have dropped out of the top 100 in world rankings in the last three years.
BY HENRY MHARA
The Mighty Warriors have not been ranked lower since the turn of the millennium, with a low point of 103 recorded in 2010.
Their fortunes appeared to change when Mavis Gumbo took over as Women Football boss in that same year, guiding the team to their best ever rankings of 82 in 2013 before she was booted out of office.
In came Miriam Sibanda, whose leadership saw the team plummeting down the rankings and were on position 98 when she was given a vote of no confidence some few months ago.
Women football is currently under an interim executive.
The team has also dropped one place in Africa, to 14, eight behind their next opponents.
Their best position in Africa remains ninth place attained in 2013.
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This is not the kind of news the team had hoped for as they prepare for a 2016 Rio Olympics second round first leg match away in Abidjan on Saturday.
The team began preparations for the match on Saturday when they got into camp and have been having two sessions a day ever since.
Mugadza named a strong 25-member squad, including returning Rutendo Makore who has been absent from the team for over a year as she was undergoing military training.
Two uncapped players midfielder Favourite Nhema and striker Cathrine Chimutanda, both of Mwenezana Football Club, are the new faces in the team.
Ivory Coast are ranked 67 in the world and sixth in Africa. They maintained that position from March when the rankings were last released despite a poor run at last month’s World Cup where they bowed out in the first round.
The winner of this two-legged encounter will advance to the final qualifying round where they will face either Ghana or Cameroon for a place at the Rio 2016 Olympics finals.
Cameroon are the best movers in the latest rankings, moving 10 places up the ladder to 43 in the world and second in Africa, dislodging Ghana who are now third in Africa and 52 in the world.
Nigeria remains the best team in Africa and the best ranked African team in the world at number 29. Mighty Warriors squad
C Dzingirai, Manyara Mandara, Process Chatsamwa, P Mujuru, T Mandaza, N Majika, S Makoto, L Mutokuto, M Murandu, C Muhara, V Ndlovu, F Muzongondi, M Nyaumwe, M Chirandu, B Kabwe, S Zulu, F Nhema, E Msipa, R Kapfumvuti, R Neshamba, E Jeke, E Chibanda, R Makore, C Chimutanda, M Mapfurutse
