Image: IOL
Bafana Bafana’s unforgettable FIFA World Cup campaign has earned Hugo Broos’ side a significant reward off the pitch, with South Africa climbing six places in the latest FIFA world rankings following their historic run to the knockout stages.
The latest rankings see Bafana rise from 60th to 54th in the world, while also breaking into the top 10 of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) rankings – further evidence of the remarkable progress made under Broos.
The jump comes after South Africa produced their best-ever performance at a FIFA World Cup, advancing to the Last 32 for the first time in the nation’s history.
Their landmark achievement was sealed with a memorable 1-0 victory over South Korea in Monterrey, where Thapelo Maseko’s decisive strike secured Bafana’s place in the knockout rounds.
Although South Africa’s dream ended with a narrow defeat to Canada in the Last 32, the team departed Mexico with their heads held high after competing with some of the world’s best and rewriting the country’s football history.
The improved FIFA ranking is the latest milestone in Broos’ impressive tenure, having already guided Bafana to a bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations before masterminding their breakthrough World Cup campaign.
With confidence at an all-time high, attention now turns to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September.
South Africa have been drawn in Group D alongside Guinea, Kenya and Eritrea as they begin their quest to qualify for another continental showpiece.
Banyana also continue upward trajectory
It was not only the men’s national team celebrating movement in the latest rankings.
Banyana Banyana climbed one place to 57th in the women’s world rankings after their impressive 1-0 international friendly victory over Japan away from home in June.
The reigning African champions remain one of the continent’s leading forces and are ranked second in Africa behind perennial powerhouse Nigeria.
Desiree Ellis’ side now shifts its attention to defending the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco later this month.
Ellis is expected to announce her final squad before the team departs for the tournament, where South Africa have been drawn in Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania.
The tournament will run from 26 July to 16 August, with Banyana aiming to retain the continental crown they won in 2022.
With both senior national teams climbing the FIFA rankings, South African football continues to enjoy one of its strongest periods in recent memory, underlining the growing competitiveness of both Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana on the international stage.
Source: www.iol.co.za
