Bafana Bafana have climbed eight places to 54th position on the latest FIFA/Coca Cola World Rankings released on Thursday, 16 January 2014. These are the first rankings of the year 2014.

Bafana Bafana have climbed eight places to 54th position on the latest FIFA/Coca Cola World Rankings released on Thursday, 16 January 2014. These are the first rankings of the year 2014.

Five other teams have managed to move up at least five places:

  • South Africa (54th, up 8)
  • United Arab Emirates (63rd, up 8)
  • Belize (152nd, up 7)
  • Oman (79th, up 6) and
  • Mali (40th, up 5)

South Africa was previously on 62.

Gordon Igesund’s side remain 10th on the continent.

Ivory Coast still lead the pack in Africa, followed by Ghana, Algeria, Egypt and Cape Verde Islands. Mali, Nigeria, Tunisia and Cameroon complete the top 10 places.

“Every match we play is very important. We were 62nd and now we have made steady progress to the 54th spot. It shows how crucial it is to do very well in this tournament, and if we go all the way we might find ourselves even higher than where we are now,” said Igesund.

“And that will help when the draw for the 2015 AFCON is made next month because it means we will be one of the seeded sides.

“Everybody wants to be seeded, I can tell you now that Nigeria doesn’t want to face Ivory Coast or Ghana or Egypt so they all fight to be seeded, in that way the passage for qualification becomes easier. If we are seeded we are going to avoid big guns like it happens in the rest of the world – that’s the secret of success. So every single game we play has repercussions, every result has a bearing on our rankings, “said the Bafana Bafana coach.

The top 10 in Africa:

  1. Ivory Coast
  2. Ghana
  3. Algeria
  4. Egypt
  5. Cape Verde Islands
  6. Mali
  7. Nigeria
  8. Tunisia
  9. Cameroon
  10. South Africa

Spain continues to be the number one country in the world followed by Germany, Argentina, Colombia and Portugal. Uruguay, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands and Brazil are the other teams in the top 10.

More movement is to be expected in the February edition of the FIFA Rankings, which will take into account all the results from the 16-team CAF African Nations Championship, which is underway in South Africa.

The tournament is exclusive to players based in their home countries.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 13 February 2014.