Bafana Bafana are now amongst the best top 10 teams in Africa according to the latest FIFA rankings.
Hugo Broos men have moved to 56th in the world, having won two of their last FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho. Bafana resumed their qualifiers last month against Lesotho in Polokwane, where they won 2-0. Four days later, they collected three points against Benin by the same score line.
Bafana make up three places in latest FIFA rankings
The recent results have positively impacted Bafana Bafana and they will now feel confident going into the last round of matches of the qualifiers. Having won four of their six matches, Broos’s men can qualify for the World Cup by winning their next two matches.
How can South Africa qualify for next year’s showpiece?
Bafana Bafana can qualify for the 2026 World Cup by beating Lesotho and Nigeria in September. If Rwanda and Benin fail to win any of their September matches, then Hugo Broos’ men will qualify, given they win their matches that month.
Depending on results elsewhere, a win over Lesothi and a draw with Nigeria might be enough. With Zimbabwe and Rwanda still to come, Bafana should qualify for the 2026 World Cup by at least 20 points.
Bafana in the top 10 in Africa according to FIFA rankings
Other teams in the top 10 continentally are Egypt, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Tunisia, Cameroon, Morocco, Senegal, and Mali. If Bafana qualifies for next year’s showpiece, their rankings will improve significantly if they win all their remaining matches.
Should Bafana be ranked inside the top 50?
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