MZUZU--The Malawi national team, the Flames, may have lost 2-3 to Chad the past week, but that result did not stop them jumping two rungs up on this month's Fifa/Coca-Cola rankings to the 96th slot.

The latest rankings, released on March 7, mean the Flames have made a dramatic three-step rise in the past two months as in February they also one step from 99 to 98.

According to the world Fifa official website, 91 games have been taken into account for the March edition of the Fifa/Coca-Cola World Ranking, three-quarters of which were friendly matches.

Reads the website: The biggest climbers of the month all come from Africa, however, with the victors of 13 matches in the second round of 2013 Nations Cup qualifying all securing the most points, and Congo (101st, up 29), Chad (112th, up 29) and São Tomé and Príncipe (115th, up 53) in particular all causing a stir.”

In Africa the Flames are rated 21st, while Ivory Coast are the number one team on the continent followed by Ghana, Algeria and Zambia in the top four.

In the Cosafa, Malawi are 3rd while Bafana Bafana of South Africa, who are 60th in the world and 10th in Africa are on number one followed by Zambia on the second position.

The Copper Bullets (Chipolopolo) are now 41st in the world. Last month they shot their way up 28 times from 71 to an enviable 43 spot in the world for the first time since 2001 after going all the way to finally shock Africa’s number one football team and Afcon favourites Ivory Coast 8-7 on post-match penalties.

Reigning world champions, Spain remain the number one team in the world ahead of Holland, Germany, Uruguay and Brazil in second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

It's a relief for the Flames to remain in the top 100 soccer nations of the world.
----
©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment