JOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwe’s senior national soccer team climbed three places up the ladder in the latest FIFA/Coca-cola World rankings, released on Wednesday afternoon.

The Warriors were ranked 113th when the last rankings were released in April, but now occupy the 110th position, in what could be attributed to their good showing in which they garnered 10 points in their most recent matches.
They leave the 113 position to Kenya, who rose a step up the ladder from 112, despite having gained or lost no point.
Zimbabwe posted victories over Swaziland and the Seychelles, among other teams they came up against since the last rankings were released, to signal their steady recovery, which sees them rise a total seven places up the ladder in two months, after they gained four places in April.

The Warriors also gained three places on the CAF rankings, after they moved from 30th to 27th, in what sees them gradually move towards reclaiming their top 20 spot in the continent.

Meanwhile, three of Africa’s six representatives at this year’s 2010 FIFA World Cup maintained their positions, with Africa’s top team in the competition – Cameroon, maintaining their 19th position in the world and second on the continent, Cote d’Ivoire remained 27th in the world and fourth in Africa, while Ghana are still sitting on 32nd in the World.
Algeria moved a place up to 30th in the world, while hosts South Africa were the biggest movers, as they are now placed 83rd from 90th in the world.

Nigeria were the only side that recorded a slide, after they dropped a place from 20th to 21st in the world.
The rankings are determined by results from international competitions and international friendly matches played on FIFA-approved matches during the last month.

During the period under review, Egypt did not gain any point, but were saved by the loss of points by teams above them, while Algeria gained 18 points. Cameroon lost one point, Nigeria lost four, Cote d’Ivoire 28 and Ghana lost 16. South Africa lost 19 points during the same period, to continue their woeful showing on the international scene.
There were no changes in the top eight positions, with five-time world champions Brazil still perched at the top, followed by European champions Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. Reigning world champions Italy are placed fifth, followed by Germany, Argentina and England. France, who exchanged positions with Croatia, are now placed ninth, after moving from 10th.
Only Croatia will miss out of South Africa for this year's World Cup from the top 10 teams in the world.

By The Zimbabwean