Published by the government of Zimbabwe
19 December 2008
Harare — ZIMBABWE have remained unchanged and will finish the year rated in the top 100 on the Fifa/Coca-Cola World soccer rankings.
The Warriors will -- according to the year-end rankings released by the world soccer governing body Fifa -- finish 2008 rated 97th as they did not change their position during the period under review.
They will also finish the year as the 27th best team in Africa after accumulating 373 points.
The Warriors, now under the guidance of Sunday Chidzambwa, however, played two international matches posting back to back wins over South Africa in the final African Nations Championships qualifying round.
Zimbabwe first beat South Africa 1-0 in Pretoria before sealing their place at the inaugural African Nations Championships finals with another fine 2-0 win over Bafana Bafana at Rufaro.
But it appears that Fifa did not factor in the results of the African Nations Championship final qualifiers when coming up with the rankings.
The African Nations Championships are scheduled for Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire in February.
Zimbabwe's year-end rating of 97, however, remains a far cry from the their best ever run in April 1995 when they ended the year as the 40th best side in the world.
In that year they were also ranked number seven in Africa.
Zimbabwe's worst rankings was in August last year when they plunged outside the top 100.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will complete the year as the best side in Africa and 14th in the world after accumulating 989 points.
African Champions, Egypt are second on the continent and 16th in the world while Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Morocco, Mali, Tunisia and Senegal complete the top 10 slots.
European champions Spain will end the year as the top team in the world ahead of Germany and The Netherlands.
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