Malawi national football team, the Flames, have tumbled 10 places from 106 to 116 on the Coca Cola Fifa rankings according to statistics released by the world football governing body yesterday.
Despite playing two international friendlies-a draw against Morocco Under-23 and 1-0 victory over Togo-on Fifa calendar dates, the Flames have dropped on the ladder.
Their opponents in Africa Cup of Nations Group A, Morocco, are up four places to position 56.
Malawi is now down to position 31 in Confederation of African Football (CAF) list and sixth in Council for Southern Africa Football Association (Cosafa) region.
Commenting on the rankings soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda noted that the games Malawi played in Morocco had no impact on the rankings.
“The match against Morocco Under-23 was a mere training match while the one which was recognised by Fifa against Togo was also not significant as they are also struggling,” he said.
Togo has dropped eight places on the Fifa lists to position 121.
Assistant coach Gerald Phiri Snr said it was tough to rise on rankings despite beating Togo due to the fact that other teams were playing World Cup qualifiers.
Malawi’s Flames are not the only ones that have dropped on the ladder.
Shocking back-to-back World Cup qualifying defeats to Cape Verde has seen South Africa drop 14 places to 80th in the world, leaving Zambia as the best team in Cosafa region.
Cape Verde jumped to 14th.
Madagascar are third best while Zimbabwe are fourth in Cosafa region followed by Mozambique.
Egypt maintained their spot as Africa’s top ranked country with Tunisia on second.
African giants Nigeria are fifth on the continent and 44th in the world six places down in the latest rankings.
Meanwhile, Germany have toppled Brazil to claim top spot with Portugal, Argentina and Belgium completing the top five, respectively.
Northern Ireland are the biggest climbers up to 20th place in the Fifa rankings.
