Last week, the football mother body hailed the revival of the team’s fortunes after it recorded the biggest improvement of all teams ranked in its table over the last month.
According to the latest world rankings table FIFA released ahead of the weekend, Zimbabwe were the biggest climbers, leaping 12 places up the ladder to position 74. The rankings table consists of 203 teams.
“We have been doing well,” said Mapeza from Harare. “Our ranking is proof of the good work that the boys are putting in. The improved ranking is important for us as coaches and the players and it’s also good for the country as it shows we are moving in the right direction.”
FIFA attributed the positive movement to the team’s recent victory over neighbours Zambia in a friendly international played at Rufaro Stadium earlier this month.
Zimbabwe has been on a steady rise since the beginning of this year and put their African Nations Cup 2012 campaign back on track. They initially appeared in danger of missing the third successive tournament, but a win over Mali in its last outing put their campaign back on track. Their next assignment is against Liberia on September 4 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
The latest ranking, which the team shares with West African outfit Benin, is nonetheless a far cry from the 40th spot the team occupied for some time in 1995 during the ‘Dream team’ era when the team was under the tutelage of late German coach Reinhard Fabisch.
Post published in: Football