According to the latest rankings of the World Football Federation (FIFA), the Malaysian team has increased 6 places, to 125th in the world.
This is Malaysia's highest ranking since February 2006 thanks to a 4-0 victory over Vietnam - the 113th ranked team in the world in the Asian Cup qualifiers in June and a 1-1 draw with Cape Verde, the 73rd ranked team in the world in a friendly match in May.
"This is a great and proud achievement for Malaysian football. We pray that the national team will continue to improve and rise even higher in the future, Mr. Zainal Hassan shared with Malaysian media.
Zainal Abidin Hassan, born in 1961, has played for Malaysia in 180 matches, playing from 1980 to 1997. He can play well in the center-back, midfielder and striker positions, and is considered one of the best players in Malaysia in history.
With many upcoming matches, Zainal believes that the Malaysian team needs to be fully supported, from fans to management agencies. He said: "Everyone in the football family, not just the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), must fully support the national team. We have been lagging behind in the international arena for too long.
But with the current leadership and direction of the team, we should feel proud and continue to support efforts to improve the level of Malaysian football.
The level of the Malaysian team has been significantly improved, as they have naturalized many quality players. In the 4-0 victory over Vietnam, the team nicknamed Harimau Malaya used 5 new naturalized players and these players all played very well.
After this leap, the Malaysian team is ranked 23rd in Asia and 4th in Southeast Asia. Harimau Malaya's next tournament is the CAFA Nations Cup, taking place from 29 August to 8 September.
They are placed in Group B with host Tajikistan (ranked 104th in the world), defending champion Iran (ranked 18) and Afghanistan (ranked 161).
"It is an honor for the Malaysian national team to be invited to participate in such a quality tournament. This is very important for the team's progress and preparation for the future, Zainal said.
When asked whether Malaysia could enter the top 120 or even the top 100 in the near future, Zainal was still optimistic, pointing to the leadership of Governor of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (who has a great influence on Malaysian football), and the national team's management team.
"With Tunku Ismail and the current structure, I see real potential. This is the best foundation we have had in a long time. With their commitment and vision, we will go further, the former Malaysian player concluded.
