The Sri Lanka National Football Team has managed to improve their position in the FIFA World Rankings after a long time following their 4-2 win over Cambodia via a penalty shootout at the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship.
Sri Lanka, who were placed in the 205th position following the draw in the first-leg match against Cambodia in Colombo, had improved their standing by occupying the 203rd position and in the aftermath of their win in Cambodia, have now reportedly reached the 199th position.
The latest FIFA World Rankings are due to be released shortly. What is noteworthy is that the National Football Team managed to improve their standing in FIFA World Rankings after a long time notwithstanding the internal power struggles between various officials of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).
The country’s football team, which had been ranked 122nd 26 years ago, had tumbled to the 205th position in 2019.
The fortunes of the Lankan ‘Lions’ had nosedived to such an extent that two years ago they had been placed in the 207th position in the FIFA World Rankings. They have at long last begun to turn the corner under the stewardship of incumbent FFSL President Jaswar Umar.
The Sri Lanka team recorded a famous victory over Cambodia at the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium last Wednesday (11) and skipper Sujan Perera expressed his delight at being able to complete a successful tournament.
“The players in our ranks have Sri Lankan blood running through their veins. They are locals who have international football experience. I feel we now possess a professional side that will be able to compete on an equal footing with foreign teams in the future. We hope to produce more giant-killing performances at the South Asian Football Championship,” said an optimistic Perera, speaking to the media upon the team’s arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
FFSL President Umar noted that the recent road to success in Cambodia had been immersed in both drawbacks and heartbreak but stressed that it had been the fruition of a 24-month-long plan formulated by the local think tank.
He further added that their immediate task would be to maintain their current form and progress to the third round of the Asian Football Championship (AFC).
Umar said that before the commencement of the third round, the ‘Lions’ would play at least four more games in October and November, and was of the view that playing friendly fixtures was the only way for the national team to improve their position in the FIFA World Rankings.
The third round of the AFC is due to be held from 25-31 March 2025, with 24 teams in six groups of four teams.
The tournament draw is scheduled for 9 December this year, with the latest FIFA World Rankings also set to be considered.
Afterwards the winners of each of those groups are set to advance to the final round.
(JK)