Flames up 10 places
Malawi National Football Team’s sterling performance at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Cameroon has started bearing fruits as the Flames are now up 10 places on Fifa Coca-Cola rankings for February.
Malawi is now ranked 119 up from 129 on the world rankings, 30th in Africa and fifth in the Cosafa region, according to statistics released by the world football governing body yesterday.
The summary of the February 2022 rankings from Fifa recognises Malawi as the third best notable jumpers due to the team’s performance at Afcon where the Flames reached the knockout stage.
The summary reads: “The biggest jump of all this month was by Gambia (125) + 25), the Scorpions ascending 25 places courtesy of their run to the quarter-finals at the African Cup of Nations.
“Equatorial Guinea, who also reached the last eight at the tournament, climb 15 places and are now in the top 100.
“Other notable rises were those of Malawi (119, + 10) and Gabon (82, + 7). For their part, Mali (48, + 5) made more modest gains but nonetheless broke into the top 50.”
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) technical director Mario Marian Marinica, who led the Flames technical panel at Afcon, said he was proud of the team’s achievement.
He said: “The Flames did us proud at Afcon. I am really proud of the Flames. I am hoping that we can continue to rise on the rankings.”
FAM president Walter Nyamilandu attributed the rise to Afcon exploits.
He said: “Malawi jumps 10 places on Fifa rankings to 119 largely due to the exploits at Afcon. A total of 15 points were gained for the win against Zimbabwe and the draw against the Africa champions Senegal while four points for the win against Comoros in the international friendly match
“The positive trajectory is a move in the right direction as it signals our return to winning ways. Our priority is to sustain the momentum so that we can move to double digits. Apparently, the new Fifa ranking system is much harder than before to move up and down. Imagine Senegal, after all they have achieved only managed to move up three places.”
But soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda advised FAM to ensure the Flames remain active for them to keep on rising.
He said: “The problem is that we may fall into the usual trap of being idle which does not work well on our side while others are active.”
The Flames owe their rise on the rankings to the team’s 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe and a draw against eventual Afcon champions Senegal.
The Lions of Teranga have continued their ascent into the upper echelons of world football to 18th in the rankings, their highest ever position.
Afcon hosts Cameroon (38, + 12), who finished third at the African Cup, and runners-up Egypt (34, + 11) have made the most significant moves within the top 50.
Canada (33, + 7) and Costa Rica (42, + 7), on the back of stellar performances during their Qatar 2022 qualifiers in the Concaf zone, have also made notable moves.
Belgium have maintained their place as the world’s best team.
