Beach soccer team 46 places up on rankings
Malawi Men’s Beach Soccer National Team has moved 46 places up on the world rankings, from position 102 to 56.
This follows the team’s qualification for the 2022 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Vilankulo, Mozambique where they finished on position six out of seven teams.
Malawi were the best movers in the world in the latest rankings released this week.
Beach Soccer National Team coach Willy Kumilambe said the latest rankings were a true reflection of the team’s performance.
“We deserved to move up on the rankings. We were among the best seven teams at Afcon finals,’’ Kumilambe said.
Kumilambe recently travelled to South Africa for a week-long coaching course.
During the Afcon finals in Mozambique, Malawi lost all its three matches. They lost 4-2 to Mozambique in the opening match before a 7-3 defeat to Morocco.
In the fifth place play-off match, Malawi lost 4-1 to Uganda on post-match penalties after 6-6 draw in regulation time.
Beach Soccer Association (BSA) Chairperson Gift Chimbalanga said the team has potential to be in the top 50 in the world.
“We have a very good team and we are confident that very soon we will be a force to reckon with in Africa,” Chimbalanga said.
The team qualified for Beach Soccer Afcon finals after beating Tanzania on away goal rule after 8-8 on aggregate.
Malawi won the first leg 3-2 in Salima District but lost the return leg 6-5 at Coco Beach in Tanzania
