Flames up to 98 on Fifa rankings

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 | Post By

BLANTYRE (Malawi Democrat Sport) -Malawi climbed step and climb to position 98 in the latest world football rankings released by FIFA on Wednesday 15th February.

Malawi has not played any competitive matches since playing in the CECAFA tournament in Tanzania in December. Their next competitive game is the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on 29th February against Chad.

In the SADC region, Zambia took over as the highest ranked nation after they won the African Cup of Nations title on Sunday. Zambia climbed 28 places to fourth in Africa and 43rd in the world following their remarkable victory against the Ivory Coast.

South Africa, who missed the AFCON finals, are second in the SADC region after they dropped two places to 58 in the world, while Angola are third in SADC with a world ranking of 83.

They are followed by Malawi (98 in the world), Zimbabwe (99), Mozambique (102), Botswana (104), the DRC (119) and Namibia (120).

The Ivory Coast remain the top ranked African nation after climbing three positions to 15 in the world. Ghana are second in Africa with a world ranking of 23, while Algeria are third with a world ranking of 36.

They are followed by Zambia (43), Mali (44) and Gabon, who climbed a massive 46 places to 45 in the world.
Libya are seventh in Africa after climbing 10 places to 53 in the world; while Nigeria is eighth in Africa after dropping 10 places to 56 in the world. Tunisia is ninth (56 in the world) and South Africa 10th (58 in the world).

Spain remain the top ranked team in the world while Germany move one place up to second, with the Netherlands dropping down to third. They are followed by Uruguay, England, Portugal, Brazil, Italy, Croatia and Denmark.