After finishing third at the Africa Cup of Nations, Bafana Bafana have broken into the top 10 on the continent in the latest rankings released by FIFA, while they've made a big move on the world stage as well.
Bafana put on a show that will live long in the memory, finishing in third place ahead of more fancied countries at the competition. Their performance has played a big role in lifting them up the latest FIFA rankings.
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The national team came into 2024 ranked 66th in the world, but they have now moved up to 58th, moving eight places up after their showing in Ivory Coast.
This is definitely a big boost for the side and will inspire them ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as the team looks to book themselves a spot for the first time since 2002. They played the 2010 World Cup as hosts, so Hugo Broos will no doubt be determined to inspire them to qualification.
Despite being knocked out in the last 16 by Bafana, North African giants and 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinalists Morocco remain the number one ranked side on the continent. Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt and AFCON champions Ivory Coast complete the list of top five ranked African sides.
Bafana are set to play Nigeria in their next World Cup qualifier in June, an opportunity to get back at the Super Eagles after the West Africans ended their chances of winning the AFCON title.
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Broos has a lot of time between now and then to plan for the clash, as well as to look at which players he can bring in, or back, into the national team for the encounter.
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