FIFA RANKING: 2012 AFCON CHAMPS FLY INTO TOP 50

February 15th, 2012 | by: sscouser |

2012 Africa Cup of Nations Champions Zambia climb to 43rd.

Zambia fly into top 50, Germany go second
(FIFA.com) Wednesday 15 February 2012

The CAF Africa Cup of Nations has left its mark on the latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, with Zambia, who won their first continental title in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, climbing to 43rd. This is the first time since February 2001 that the side, coached by Herve Renard, have made it into the top 50.

Despite losing on penalties in the decider, Côte d’Ivoire (15th, up 3) remain Africa’s highest-positioned team. Aside from the two finalists, third-placed Mali (44th, up 25) as well as host nations Gabon (45th, up 46) and Equatorial Guinea (110th, up 41) have made considerable ground.

Changes are also to be seen in the top ten, with Germany (2nd, up 1) bumping the Netherlands out of second place to take up position behind Spain, and Portugal (6th, up 1) and Italy (8th, up 1) also making headway. Denmark have moved into the top ten (10th, up 1), pushing Argentina down to 11th.

All of these changes in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Ranking are due to the devaluation of matches from previous years, as no top-ten team has played a match in the last month.

The balance of power between the confederations remains relatively unchanged: UEFA has 27 teams in the top 50 (down 1), CONMEBOL has nine, CAF six, CONCACAF four (up 1), the AFC four and the OFC zero.

The results of 51 international matches have been taken into account in compiling the current edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Ranking, of which 32 took place as part of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations and 19 were friendlies.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be issued on 7 March 2012, one week earlier than originally planned.

AFRICA (Top 10):

1. Cote d’ Ivoire (15 World, up 3)
2. Ghana (23 World, up 3)
3. Algeria (36 World, down 4)
4. Zambia (43 World, up 28)
5. Mali (44 World, up 25)
6. Gabon (45 World, up 46)
7. Libya (53 World, up 10)
8. Nigeria (56, down 11)
9. Tunisia (56 World, up 3)
10. South Africa (58 World, down 2)

Egypt and Senegal out of the top 10.

11. Egypt (61 World, down 25); down 7 Africa
16. Senegal (68 World, down 25); down 11 Africa

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Comments

By sscouser | February 15th, 2012 at 9:28 am

Malawi = 98 (World, up 1), 22 (Africa)

Malawi ahead of the following countries that qualified for the 2012 AFCON Tournament:

Botswana = 104 (World, down 10), 25 (Africa)
Equatorial Guinea = 110 (World, up 41), 27 (Africa)
Niger = 111 (World, down 13), 28 (Africa);
Sudan = 111 (World, up 9), 29 (Africa)

Ranking of Teams based on the 2012 AFCON Tournament (Win = 3 pts, Draw = 1 pt, Loss = 0 pts)

1. Zambia (16 points)
2. Cote d’ Ivoire (15 points)
3. Mali (12 points)
4. Ghana (10 points)
5. Gabon (9 points)
6. Tunisia (6 points)
7. Equatorial Guinea (6 points)
8. Sudan (4 points)
9. Guinea (4 points)
10. Libya (4 points)
11. Angola (4 points)
12. Morocco (3 points)
13. Senegal (0 points)
14. Burkina Faso (0 points)
15. Niger (0 points)
16. Botswana (0 points)

Posted from United States

By Titus Musangu | February 15th, 2012 at 9:53 am

I’m very surprised at this FIFA Ranking. How can Algeria be on top of the African Champions when they even failed to qualify for the Tournament? Look at the teams that feature on the top 10 list; Nigeria and South Africa are on the top 10 list and yet they didn’t qualify for the most African prestigious tournament. I’m very disappointed with this FIFA Ranking. I’m not saying this just because I’m Zambian, but it’s so unfair to see Algeria to be on top of the African Champions. This is very unfair. CAF and FIF Presidents have overstayed on those positions. Go Zambia go!!!! The Bullet has shot down the mighty Elephant.

By sscouser | February 15th, 2012 at 10:14 am

“How can Algeria be on top of the African Champions when they even failed to qualify for the Tournament?”

Four years, covering one World Cup cycle, are taken into account. Matches older than 12 months within this
four-year period depreciate blockwise on a yearly basis:

Match average from past 12 months: 100%
Match average from previous year: 50%
Match average from year 3: 30%
Match average from year 4: 20%
Matches older than 4 years: 0% (deleted)

Posted from United States

By Moses Sichone | February 15th, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Am glad that Zambia is now ranked 4th in Africa but I don’t understand how Equatorial Guinea moved up more than Zambia considering that Zambia won more games than them.

By sscouser | February 15th, 2012 at 4:04 pm

Moses, a team’s total number of points over a four-year period is determined by adding: 1) the average number of points gained from matches during the past 12 months; and 2) the average number of points gained from matches older than 12 months (depreciates yearly).

Key Word: Average

The main reasons Equatorial Guinea moved up more than Zambia:

1) Equatorial Guinea (151) beat Libya (63) and Senegal (43).

“The biggest winners are teams who win competitive matches, especially against high-ranking opponents.”

2) The average number of points difference between Equatorial Guinea (ranked 151) and the team ranked 111 (Azerbaijan) was only 153. The average number of points difference between Zambia (ranked 71) and the team ranked 30 (Korea Republic) was 293.

Posted from United States

By Emmanuel | February 16th, 2012 at 7:52 pm

@ sscouser

I understand how Equatorial Guinea moved up more than Zambia but I don’t understand how Gabon moved up 46 places.

By cypres | February 18th, 2012 at 11:12 am

“How can Algeria be on top of the African Champions when they even failed to qualify for the Tournament?”

FIFA ranking give an approximation of teams strength. It’s not an absolute quantification.
For example you may ace the last project, exam or homework and have someone who did better than you in previous assignments gets a better grade. That doesn’t even necessarily means the individual with higher grade is more performer or efficient in applying what you learned.

GYAN

“Ghana star Asamoah Gyan has quit international football “indefinitely”.
…
Gyan’s decision was confirmed his manager but the country’s football association (GFA) says it is in talks to try and get him to change his mind.”

Do they want him to miss more crucial penalties? It’s the end that justify the means. Let him go.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17084626

Posted from United States

By sscouser | February 20th, 2012 at 1:51 pm

Emmanuel, email me.

Cypres, no so fast:

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has hinted that he will make a quick return to the Black Stars just days after announcing his decision to take an indefinite break from international football.

The Al Ain attacker reiterated his commitment to the Black Stars stating that he will continue to serve his country.

In an emotional statement released by the UAE-based striker, Gyan called for the ‘prayers and support’ as he seeks to return to the Black Stars ’stronger’.

Gyan apologised fluffing a penalty at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and said his break will give him the time to recover from the shock of missing the spot-kick.

The UAE-based striker took a break from international football on Saturday in the wake of the criticism levelled against him following his penalty miss in the semi-final against Zambia.

Gyan expressed his contrition over the penalty miss revealing the emotional hurt since missing another key penalty for the country.

“Firstly it’s important that I express my sincere apologies to my country.I never intended to make a decision like this early on in my career psychologically I am down,” Gyan said in a statement.

“As you can imagine it’s been very hard for me mentally to miss two important successive penalties for my country and because of this a break to recoup my thoughts and emotions will aid me to come back bigger and mentally stronger.

“I never fully recovered from 2010 World Cup and now 2012 AFCON.

“I want my country to know I love playing for them and I wouldn’t be who I am without them.

“I would like to ask for prayers and support from Ghanaians to help me to come back with a renewed strength to continue serving my country.”

Gyan has been subjected to extreme abused since missing the penalty against Zambia which could have helped the Black Stars to reach the final of the tournament.

He also missed a penalty against Uruguay in the quarter-final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The Ghana Football Association has started talks with Gyan to ensure that he makes a quick return to the Black Stars.

Gyan to come back in June, says Ghanaian FA

Asamoah Gyan will make his Ghana return in June, says the country’s FA vice-president Jordan Anagbla.

Gyan ‘indefinitely’ quit the Black Stars on Saturday, frustrated at the abuse suffered after his missed penalty in an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final .

However, Anagbla is confident that the striker will return for June’s opening 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and African champions Zambia

“He’ll be available – he’ll be there to play for Ghana,” said Anagbla.

“This morning, I was able to [talk to] him and don’t forget I have this good relation with him.

“So I was able to talk to him to come out of his decision – to agree with me that he will be available for any game.”

The Black Stars open their Group D campaign against Lesotho on the first weekend of June, before playing 2012 Nations Cup winners Zambia a week later