The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE have paid the price for their poor display in the just-concluded 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers as they are now ranked 121 on the Fifa rankings, down from 118.
The latest Fifa rankings indicate that Zimbabwe have slid three places down as they were ranked 118 the last time the world football governing body released rankings last month. In Africa, they are ranked number 29. The Zimbabwean women are ranked 119 in the world.
A change in the coaching department, which saw Zimbabwean Norman Mapeza replace Croatian Zdravko Logarusic did not quickly transform to positive results as the Warriors lost three of the four remaining World Cup qualifiers.
They were beaten 3-1 away by Ghana before they lost 1-0 to the Black Stars at the National Sports Stadium. Zimbabwe lost 1-0 to South Africa away prior to playing out a 1-1 draw with Ethiopia in their final match of the qualifiers last Sunday to finish bottom of the log with just two points.
The Warriors scored just two goals in the qualifiers, a penalty by skipper Knowledge Musona in the away loss to Ghana and a first half goal in open play by Kudakwashe Mahachi against Ethiopia.
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