Flames drop on rankings

Malawi National Football Team’s poor performance in the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers has affected the Flames’ position on Fifa CocaCola rankings.

After finishing 2022 at position 124, the Flames are down to 127 in the first rankings for 2023 released on Thursday by world football governing body Fifa.

Malawi is on position 35 in Africa and eight in the Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) region, according to the statement from Fifa.

This follows the Flames’ back-to-back 2-0 and 0-4 losses to Egypt in 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

South Africa, on position 66, are the best team in the Cosafa region followed by Zambia’s Chipolopolo on 86.

Namibia have moved up from 113 to 106 following their impressive performance in the 2023 Afcon qualifiers.

The Warriors held Cameroon 1-1 away before a shock 2-1 victory at home. The Indomitable Lions have consequently dropped nine places from 33 to 42.

Madagascar are on 110 on fourth in the Cosafa region followed by Angola on 118th place and Mozambique on 119 and Zimbabwe on 126 in that order.

Morocco, ranked 11th, are the best team in Africa followed by 2022 Afcon champions Senegal on 18, Tunisia on 28, Algeria on 34, Egypt on 35 and Nigeria on 40.

World Cup champions Argentina are the new leaders having dethroned Brazil who are now third while France are up to second.

The most improved side in this edition are Central African Republic on 122 having moved up 10 places. The next rankings will be published on July 20.

Initially, Fifa was releasing the rankings every month, but the world football governing body has now opted for periodic rankings.

Football Association of Malawi competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the rankings are now released after Fifa match days.

He said: “What is happening is that the rankings are released after Fifa international dates for matches. Where there are no matches, the rankings are not released.”