Flames static on Fifa rankings
The Flames have maintained their position on Fifa rankings despite holding Africa champions Cameroon in Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) last week.
After starting the year on position 124, the October rankings place the Flames on position 125, with just two months to go before wrapping up 2018.
They have also maintained position 33 in Africa and seventh in the Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) region.
Soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda observed that though Malawi drew against Cameroon last week, the previous losses to Cameroon and Morocco in Afcon qualifers made the result insignificant.
“We needed a win to rise, otherwise, the draw has just helped us to remain on position 125,” he said.
South Africa is the best team in the Cosafa region followed by Zambia’s Chipolopolo.
Madagascar, who became the first team to qualify for the 2019 Afcon, are third best in Cosafa followed by Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique in that order.
Tunisia is the best team in Africa while Senegal has maintained second position. Nigeria has climbed four places to position three, replacing Democratic Republic of Congo who have dropped six places.
Malawi’s opponents in Afcon Group B, Morocco, are fifth after dropping a place while Cameroon are sixth.
Belgium is the best team in the world, replacing Fifa World Cup champions France, who are now second. The two sides were the first ever joint leaders in September.
“The top two remain in front after a month in which each of them enjoyed a win and a draw, with Belgium and France beating Switzerland and Germany, respectively, in the Uefa Nations League,” reads a statement on www.fifa.com.
Brazil are third; Croatia fourth while England are fifth with Uruguay on sixth and Portugal on seventh position.
Fifa in August, introduced a new formula for ranking teams.
The formular relies on adding or subtracting points won or lost for a game to or from the previous aggregate points rather than averaging game points over a given period as in the previous version formular.
