By GRACE CHAILE –

ZAMBIA has slumped on the latest FIFA Coca-Cola rankings released yesterday for September dropping to 88th position in the world and 22 in Africa.
Zambia’s drop from last month ranking of 84th in the world and 21 on the continent could largely be attributed to the barren draw against Mozambique and the 2-1 defeat suffered against Cape Verde in the Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group F qualifiers.
Algeria are the best ranked team in Africa followed by Ivory Coast and Tunisia in third place while Cape Verde are seventh, Niger in 28th position and Mozambique on 29th place and 109 in the world.
Meanwhile, Government says it has already started preparations to a charter a plane for the Chipolopolo for their October 11 AFCON qualifier against Niger.
Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili said preparations to charter a plane have already commenced to avoid the fiasco that characterised Zambia’s departure for Cape Verde for the September 10 qualifier that saw the Chipolopolo arriving hours before the match.
The Minister said this in an interview after touring the Heroes National Stadium on Wednesday that his ministry had held meetings with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) on the possibility of having the plane on time.
“Preparations for a chartered plane to Niger have already started because we do not want any finger pointing.
“I will see to it that what happened during the Cape Verde game doesn’t repeat itself. I have engaged FAZ in a meeting and this time there won’t be any excuses,” he said.