The Chipolopolo Boys have risen six places on the latest FIFA rankings to stand at 67 according to the rankings released by FIFA on Thursday morning.
Zambia last month fell to 2 places but the Chipolopolo have started the year in bullish mood to record their best upward movement since December, 2014 when the former African Champions moved 16 places up.
The George Lwandamina coached side did not play any match in December despite the upward movement which has seen them overtake South Africa and Equatorial Guinea to rank 15th in Africa.
Zambia’s next opponents in the World Cup qualifiers Congo remain in 7th position.
Africa top 20: Ivory Coast, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde Islands, Tunisia, Senegal, Congo, Guinea, Cameroon, Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Mali, Nigeria, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Morocco, Gabon, Benin
At least we ar moving
am jst observing like that man fro uk. Wat mali nd uganda done 2 b on top of us
They have played more friendly matches than us over the past months…thats the key to a better rating AND QUALIFICATION TO THE WORLD CUP…Play more friendly matches and get rated as one of the top five seeds…then you avoid the TOP four African countries in the group stages!!
No you are wrong Prince. How many matches Uganda or Mali played? You mean Uganda is ahead of countries like Zambia, Nigeria, SA, Mali and you see nothing wrong with that.
Cape Verde have been in the top 5 since how many months now? They’ve never gone to the world cup.
Fifa ranking is just fifa ranking. It does not the strength and abilities of the teams. DO you know the number of teams ranked below Uganda that can easily defeat Uganda?
let us not b misled by these fifa ranking .lets just play the games.game on chipolopolo
Can someone explain to me how we have climbed 6 places when we never played any game last month!
That tells you how crappy and a sham of a football team grading system. Zambia didnt play a single friendly match during the evaluation period only to come and leap even beating those who had played some friendlies, its like you avoiding an exam and decide to stay home, only to be called by the school come you just qualified!
Let’s remain focus,and prepare for the world cup. We need to take each game seriously and assemble a strong squad. FAZ is in right direction to beef up the technical bench.
Muzafunta bantu. Lets just focus on the ball. Eyes on the ball.
These rankings r jst misleadin let’s jst OBSERVE
This are true Uganda beat Togo home and away then compare beating Sudan.Google,”how are FIFA Ranking Points Calculated” and you find answers.
Out of topic ,..Pierre-. Aubamayeng of Gabon is the 2015 African footballer of the year The chap is on fire in the Bundasliga scoring 27 goals in 27 games.
Aubamayeng deservedly got it. He is solid & is a force to reckon with. Currently, he is a top world striker. Ighalo of Nigeria (Watford) is the next up & coming kid. Best forwards currently in Africa are: Aubamayeng, Mahrez, Ighalo & Sadio Mane
@Ghana Paradox,Dede’s another one who should be on your shortlist.He’s work rate is second to none.
Why is it that cape verde is still on the the same position even when they were beaten by Kenya 1-0 in world cup qualifiers in Kenya,but Fifa rankings remains the same.
They believe Kenya beating Cape Verde was a fluke!
Rankings are important as someone has indicated. You get a relatively easier group with minnows like Mauritius, Comoros, etc. if you are a higher rank and thus increasing your chances of qualifying.
Dede’s work rate is amazing. Achieving the end result is another. The end justifies the means. If you have followed Aubamayang closely, you would admit that his work rate is equally amazing compounded with the fact that the end results of his efforts are also amazing.
Yes, you may have minnows like Mauritius and Comoros. In addition, you may also have never qualifying world cup contenders like Zambia. As Zambia is included in your group of four, you are certain that there are only THREE countries in the group as it is an absolute certainty that Zambia WILL, or better still, CAN never quality for the world cup. You are then assured of a place in Russia.
Fifa rankings are okay for what they serve. They are based on a mathematical permutation hence we can’t say the rankings are wrong.However, with a lay man’s eye they appear wrong because with us we want to base the ranking on how strong we think a team is.
I WHICH YOU GOOD LUCK CHIPOLOPOLO.
We will beat Congo both home and away even if they are ahead of us FIFA on ranking.This simply shows that the ranking is not real.
So mind games in football are real. Just by looking at that list we are all disturbed.
Zambia 3 zim 2