Bafana Bafana have moved up one position in the latest FIFA rankings following their World Cup qualifiers.
Hugo Broos’ men climbed to 55th in the FIFA rankings and also moved to ninth in Africa. This comes after Bafana defeated Lesotho 3-0 and drew 1-1 with Nigeria earlier this month in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Since reaching the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), South Africa has steadily climbed in the rankings, albeit at a slow pace.
Why did Bafana Bafana not jump at least five or six places in the ranking?
For Bafana to improve their rankings significantly, they need to beat top teams. Wins against Lesotho and Benin will not help South Africa jump in the rankings, even if those wins come in competitive matches.
Although Broos’ men finished third in the previous Afcon, they only defeated Tunisia and Namibia in 90 minutes. Wins against DR Congo and Cape Verde were on penalties, which ultimately FIFA caps them as draws.
What should Bafana do to improve their rankings?
In October, South Africa plays their final World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. A win against both teams could see them in the top 50 for the first time in over a decade. Anything less will see them remain at the same spot or drop a few places given their opponents are weaker and rank below them.
Bafana can also improve their rankings if they win or draw against stronger opponents in November. If South Africa can play Senegal and Uruguay for example, they should be able to jump five or 10 places if they win those friendly matches.