By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – The National team, Sihlangu have dropped one place in the latest FIFA Rankings to 155 from 154.
This is after their poor performance in the COSAFA Cup where they played three matches and failed to score a goal, playing goalless draws against Botswana and Mozambique before losing 1-0 to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in group A of the COSAFA Cup.
The ranking were released on Thursday by the Football International Federation Association (FIFA). There are 210 countries ranked who are members of FIFA.
In June, Sihlangu dropped six places to 154 from 148 after losing their last two 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers games against Angola and Mauritius. Sihlangu lost 1-0 to Angola and were beaten 2-1 by Mauritius on June 7 and 11 respectively.
Sihlangu dropped in the latest rankings while under Interim Coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane who took the reigns from Dominic Kunene who was in charge when the June rankings were released.
The team is expected back to action in September during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers where they face Mali, Guinea Bissau and Mozambique in Group I under a new Coach who is yet to be announced by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA).
Meanwhile, EURO 2024 Champions Spain rose to third while World Cup winners Argentina held on to the top spot following their Copa America triumph over Colombia.
England moved up to fourth, leapfrogging Brazil after their underwhelming Copa America campaign with France remaining second.
The top 10-ranked nations:
1 – Argentina
2 – France
3 – Spain
4 – England
5 – Brazil
6 – Belgium
7 – Netherlands
8 – Portugal
9 – Colombia
10 – Italy
