31 May 2008
The Zimbabwe national soccer team has received a morale booster ahead of today's do-or-die 2010 Group 2 clash against Guinea.
The Warriors moved three places on the Fifa rankings, released at the just-ended 58th edition of the world soccer-governing body's Annual Congress, where they are now 95th from their last placing of 98th. The resultant improvement has also seen Zimbabwe move on its African ranking -- from 24 to 23, but the release comes with the bad news that Guinea -- their biggest threat for the sole ticket from the four-team group 2 comprising Kenya, Namibia, Guinea and Zimbabwe -- have moved seven places up the ladder and are now ranked sixth on the continent and 40th in the world.
That means Zimbabwe enter today's qualifier as the underdogs, with Guinea, who made it to the quarterfinals of the 2008 African Cup of Nations Finals in Ghana early this year, only inferior to Ghana (1st), Cameroon (2nd), Côte d'Ivoire (3rd), African champions Egypt (5th) and Nigeria (6th), respectively.
According to the Fifa rankings, Mali are ranked seventh, Morocco eighth, Senegal ninth with Tunisia completing the top 10 African rankings as the World Cup qualifiers roar into life this weekend.
Argentina lead the world rankings, with Brazil second, and world champions Italy, in third place.
The rankings are taken seriously in international football, as they are used in determining such things as rankings in competition draws, and also determining whether national teams should take part in preliminary competitions in such draws as the World Cup or Nations Cup.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe players taking part in today's qualifier against Guinea, will each walk away with Z$350 billion, should the Warriors win their opening Group 2 tie in the cauldron of Conakry.
According to documents in our possession, the players have been promised a winning bonus of $350 billion each, in addition to an allowance of US$500 each, by the government.
The Warriors have named a strong 18-member squad led by England-based Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari, who is seeking a fruitful stint at the helm of the national side. Mwaruwari's appointment as Warriors' captain last year got off to the worst possible start when Zimbabwe failed in their bid to make it to their third, successive African Nations Cup tournament in January this year. The inconsistent Mwaruwari, who has blown hot and cold since joining the UK Premiership in 2006, took over the captain's armband from veteran striker Peter Ndlovu at the start of the 2008 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, but Zimbabwe ended bottom of their qualifying group, with Morocco coming out tops followed by Malawi, a humiliation which was to cost national team coach Charles Mhlauri his job.
But Mwaruwari says he is determined to make amends this time around, declaring his troops are ready for today's showdown in Conakry.
Probable starting line-up
Goalkeeper: Energy Murambadoro (CAPS United)
Defenders: Onisimo Bhasera (Kaizer Chiefs, SA), Zvenyika Makonese (Santos, SA), Obert Moyo (Pretoria University, SA), David Kutyauripo (CAPS United).
Midfielders: Harlington Shereni (FC Nantes, France), Esrom Nyandoro (Mamelodi Sundowns, SA), Cephas Chimedza (Saint Truiden, Belgium), Joseph Ngwenya (SK Austria, Austria).
Strikers: Gilbert Mushangazhike (Orlando Pirates, SA), Benjani Mwaruwari (Manchester City, England).
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