Times Of Swaziland: SIHLANGU FINISH YEAR OUTSIDE THE TOP 150

SIHLANGU FINISH YEAR OUTSIDE THE TOP 150
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Machawe Fakudze on 20/12/2024 09:26:00


MBABANE – The national team, Sihlangu, are unmoved in the latest FIFA World
Rankings, retaining their position at 159.
Under the guidance of Coach Logarusic Zdravko, the squad’s ranking, released
yesterday, by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA),
reflects no change after a lack of competitive activity since their last match.
This encounter was during the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
Qualifiers against Mali. The team’s 1-1 draw against the West Africans was
ultimately insufficient to secure a spot in the finals scheduled for next year
in Morocco, as Eswatini finished bottom of their group. This consistent ranking
will undoubtedly provide a significant morale boost for the Sifiso ‘Ayoba’
Matse-captained side as they prepare for the upcoming back-to-back African
Nations Championships (CHAN) qualifying matches against Madagascar.
The first leg of this crucial tie is set to take place tomorrow at Lucas Moripe
Stadium in South Africa, with kick-off scheduled for 6pm. The latest ranking
signifies that Sihlangu will conclude the year outside the top 150 football
nations globally. It is noteworthy that the team achieved their highest-ever
FIFA ranking in 2017, reaching an impressive 88th  position.
Conversely, the lowest ranking came in October 2012, when they languished at
position 190 in the world standings. Efforts to obtain comments from Logarusic
were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to WhatsApp messages by the time this
report was compiled.
Comment
Meanwhile, the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Marketing and Communications
Officer, Muzi ‘Rhoo’ Radebe, declined to comment, stating that this is a
technical matter requiring input solely from the coach. Argentina, on the other
hand, have concluded the year once again in top spot, with France in second
place and Spain joining them on the podium. Within the Council of Southern
Africa Football Association (COSAFA), Angola have made the most remarkable
progress over the past 12 months, climbing an impressive 32 places to their
current position of 85.
The next FIFA ranking announcement is scheduled for April 3, 2025. Meanwhile,
FIFA rankings play a crucial role in the seeding process for international
tournaments, such as the World Cup and continental championships. Higher-ranked
teams are often placed in more favourable positions in the tournament brackets,
which can significantly affect their chances of advancing.