MORE WOES FOR MALAYSIA?

National team expected to slide again in Fifa rankings

MALAYSIA are expected to edge closer to their worst-ever ranking when Fifa release their latest list for October today.

Malaysia, currently ranked joint-166th with Laos on 126 points, could slide four or five rungs on the back of losing 16 ranking points following the 20 defeat to Hong Kong in an Asian Cup Group B qualifier on Oct 10.

It will be Malaysia’s worst level since Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim became the FA of Malaysia (FAM) president in March, and just off the country’s worst-ever position of No 174 reached in April and May last year.

The national team have not won in their last eight international matches, including five under new national coach Nelo Vingada, since the 3-2 win over Cambodia in November last year at the AFF Cup.

The current winless run is Malaysia’s longest since 201314, marking the end of K. Rajagobal’s four-year stint as head coach when the national team also went eight games without a win.

The defeat to Hong Kong, however, accounts for only onethird of Malaysia’s 16-point slide, with the bulk of it due to a 20 per cent loss in value of a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Timor Leste in October 2015, according to Timesport’s calculation.

Conversely, a win over Hong Kong would have seen Malaysia move between five to seven places in the rankings on 145 points.

Following the abject display against Hong Kong, Tunku Ismail said in a panel discussion on Wednesday that he would take a “hands-on” role in the national team’s management.

The FAM president also claimed several players in the squad did not deserve to be called up and added that he knew Malaysia were in trouble the moment he saw the starting line-up against Hong Kong.

Malaysia are scheduled to face North Korea in another Asian Cup qualifier at home on Nov 14, pending a decision by the Asian Football Confederation on the rescheduling of thrice-delayed away fixture against the same opponents.