Malawi National Football Team have recorded steady progress in the Coca-Cola Fifa World Rankings throughout 2025, climbing from the bottom of the table in January to record their best position of the year in September.
According to latest rankings released yesterday by the world football governing body, the Flames are now ranked 126th, a jump of six places from position 132 in April.
The Flames began the year on a poor note, hovering between position 133 and 132 from January to April, largely influenced by mixed fortunes in results in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, African Nations Championship (Chan) and Cosafa Cup.
In March, Malawi defeated Comoros 2-0 away and home in Chan, but lost 1-0 to Namibia and 2-0 to Tunisia in World Cup qualifiers.
Chan second round saw Malawi beat South Africa 1-0 at home, but lost 2-0 in Pretoria in May.
A poor outing at the Cosafa Cup in June saw Malawi suffering 1-0 defeats to Lesotho and Angola and a 0-0 draw with Namibia.
However, fortunes began to change following this month’s crucial 2–1 win over Namibia and a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Liberia in the World Cup qualifiers which added valuable ranking points, lifting Malawi to 126th, their highest placement in over a year.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka in an interview said the rise in the rankings is a motivation for the team.
“The improvement in the rankings is due to the latest results. We managed to beat Namibia ranked 101 and drew against Liberia who despite being 144th are a strong side,” he said.
With two more World Cup qualifiers away to Sao Tome’ and Principe as well as a home fixture against Equatorial Guinea next month, Zakazaka said Malawi have a chance to improve and wrap up the year on a higher ranking.
However, football analyst Charles Nyirenda said the match against Equatorial Guinea has more impact than that of Sao Tome’.
He said: “Beating Sao Tome’ who are ranked below the Flames on position 195 will not have an impact.
“But we need to ensure we defeat Equatorial Guinea, who are above us on position 95. That will have an impact on our rankings.”
Meanwhile, Spain have reclaimed the top position for the first time since June 2014 amid a shake-up in the top 10.
Previous leaders, world champions Argentina, have plunged to third, having been leapfrogged by France.
Morocco are Africa’s best team on position 11 in the world followed by Senegal (18) and Egypt on (35)
