Sihlangu 2nd lowest in COSAFA as FIFA Ranking remain static due to Covid-19

Mbabane: As football activities take the backseat due to the ongoing fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic, Eswatini senior football national team Sihlangu Semnikati has hit rock bottom in the Coca-Cola FIFA Ranking table.

Sihlangu who endured a disastrous 2019 under former coach Kostadin Papic is currently ranked second lowest in the COSAFA region at just 153 place from the 210 countries on the list.

The FIFA Ranking table remain static as the world continues its fight against Covid-19. South Africa are the best ranked country in COSAFA followed by Zambia while Eswatini is only better than 172nd ranked Mauritius in the region.

COSAFA is the Confederation of Southern African Football Association.

The ongoing measures to combat the spread of Covid-19 have resulted in little football of late and, consequently, next-to-no movement in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola World Ranking.

A whole raft of international fixtures, including qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and other major tournaments were postponed.

Amid this upheaval, the Ranking was impacted by just four matches- all friendlies and as such remains all but identical to the previous edition.

The solitary change sees South Sudan move into joint 168th position with Bermuda after the latter dropped a rankings point, thanks to a 2-0 defeat in Jamaica (48th unchanged) on March 11.

Meanwhile, Belgium remains the best footballing nation currently with France, Brazil, England and Uruguay completing the top five.

Senegal are top of the pile in the continent and an overall 20th position in the world followed by Tunisia. The next FIFA Rankings will be released in June 22, 2020.

COSAFA RANKING

Country (World Ranking)

1. South Africa (71)

2. Zambia (88)

3. Madagascar (91)

4. Mozambique (106)

5. Zimbabwe (111)

6. Namibia (117)

7. Malawi (123)

8. Angola (124)

9. Comoros (133)

10. Lesotho (139)