Unbeaten Streak Fails to Boost Bafana Bafana’s FIFA Rankings

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Bafana Bafana, South Africa’s national football team, has seen no improvement in the latest FIFA world rankings despite recent solid performances. Though unbeaten in their last 14 matches, including a dominant 5-0 win and a 1-1 draw against Congo Brazzaville in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers, Bafana remains stagnant in 60th place globally and 11th in Africa.

The South African squad, under coach Hugo Broos, has been in good form, managing to avoid defeat in their last 14 games across all competitions. Their unbeaten run, consisting of seven wins and seven draws, includes an impressive home victory over Congo Brazzaville, followed by a hard-fought draw on the road during the October international break. Despite this momentum, the team has not gained ground in the FIFA standings.

While their Group K performance has secured them seven points so far, Bafana’s stagnant ranking raises questions about how FIFA’s system accounts for a team’s quality of opposition and performance consistency. South Africa will need to clinch victories in their upcoming Afcon qualifiers against Uganda Cranes and South Sudan in November to have a chance at improving their standing ahead of the 2025 tournament.

While Bafana Bafana’s ranking remained unchanged, Botswana made headlines by achieving the most significant points increase in the world (+38.3) during the recent FIFA ranking update. Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, a key Kaizer Chiefs defender, captained the Zebras to back-to-back victories over Cape Verde, a team ranked 72nd globally, propelling Botswana from 147th to 140th in the standings.

Ditlhokwe’s leadership and defensive prowess have been crucial in Botswana’s resurgence on the international stage. These victories have not only elevated Botswana’s profile but have also instilled renewed hope in the nation’s football future, positioning them as a growing force in African football.

In contrast to Bafana Bafana’s stagnation, Nigeria’s Super Eagles continue their upward trajectory, climbing three places to 36th globally and maintaining fourth place in Africa. This rise comes as Nigeria prepares to face South Africa in their shared 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group.

With both teams aiming to secure their spots in Afcon 2025, the stakes for South Africa’s upcoming matches are high. A strong finish in November could not only guarantee Afcon qualification but also improve Bafana’s global ranking, potentially setting up a crucial clash against Nigeria in the next FIFA World Cup qualifying rounds.

As Bafana Bafana prepare for their final Afcon qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan, the pressure is mounting to turn solid performances into meaningful results on the global stage. Hugo Broos and his squad will be hoping to translate their unbeaten run into a rankings boost by securing the wins needed to climb higher in the FIFA standings.