Zebras drop one place in FIFA rankings

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Friday February 5, 2010 00:00

The slump is largely due to the fact that the team has been largely idle after failure to qualify for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The AFCON had a major impact on the rankings with champions, Egypt ,being the biggest movers. The Pharaohs, who won a third successive AFCON title stormed into the world's top ten and are now ranked the best team in Africa. Although they will be missing from the 2010 World Cup, Egypt are now 10th in the world after moving up 14 places.

 Egypt's position is the second highest ever for an African country since the introduction of the rankings after Nigeria reached fifth place in April 1994. Spain occupy first position with Brazil second.

Meanwhile, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) vice president (technical), Dintle Mphele has said the Zebras' assistant coach will only be hired on a temporary basis due to financial constraints.

When the association confirmed the appointment of Tshosane as the head coach last year, it said he will recommend the technical team he wants to work with. Mphele said that Tshosane has since retained the entire technical team that he has been working with and the BFA has sanctioned the decision. This means Boteti Young Fighters' coach, Kenneth Mogae remains the assistant tactician at Zebras.

There have been concerns about the availability of Mogae, the former national Under-23 coach to the Zebras due to work commitments. But Mphele said that arrangements will be made to get someone to assist Tshosane in the event Mogae is not available.