Malawi National Netball Team is glued on position seven in the latest world ranking, released on Thursday night.
World Netball released the rankings that have taken into account all matches played before November 26.
It means the senior teams’ results at Africa Netball Cup 2024 finals in Namibia have not been considered.
The rankings reflect on the Queens’ defeats in Spar International Challenge Netball Series when the side lost three games to South Africa 68-31, 69-38 and 69- 24 in November.
Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) General Secretary Yamikani Khungwa-Kauma said they were keeping fingers crossed to maintain the rank.
“It is our wish that we should not go down further,” she said.
The Nam GS said it was not obvious that the Queens would sink further down having finished fourth at the continental championship where they lost 48-42 to minnows Zimbabwe in a bronze match.
“We know that we lost 100 points when we lost to Zimbabwe and we also lost 50 points each when we went down to South Africa and Zimbabwe. As such we need to do well in the forthcoming Quad Series to maintain the rank or move up.
“We are also aware of the teams who have surrounded us but we need to be careful as they can gain valuable points if they are active,” she said.
Eighth ranked Tonga Nation are breathing closely on Queens’ neck and any slip up will cost Malawi a fortune on the standings.
Retired netballer Neffie Kam’mata said the Queens should not rest because it would be difficult to regain a better rank.
“We are gradually sinking but we seem not to take any notice. If we do not address this now we would soon find ourselves outside the top 10, struggling to crawl back to stardom,” Kam’mata said.
