FOLLOWING a whirlwind 2011 football year under coach Norman Mapeza, the Warriors have closed the season down in 98the place on the Fifa rankings after a failed campaign in the Cecafa Tusker Senior Challenge early this month.

According to the Fifa/Coca Cola world rankings released Wednesday, the Warriors moved down an incredible 28 places after losing 2-0 and 1-0 to Rwanda and Uganda respectively in Tanzania.

In Africa, they are ranked 24, after moving down eight places.

The Warriors were ranked 70th in the world and 16th in Africa in November’s ranking but participation at the Cecafa senior championships has seen Zimbabwe dropping after losing to Rwanda and Uganda.

Victories against Djibouti and Tanzania did not help the Warriors cause since Djibouti was ranked a lowly 200 while Tanzania was placed 136th. According to the ranking methods, victories against lowly placed sides almost count for nothing.

The Warriors won their two international friendly matches against Zambia (2-0) and South Africa (2-1).

They had also beaten Liberia and Mali at home in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations but lost the last crucial last qualifier against the Cape Verde Islands to miss out on the continental finals.