By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The top ten ranking published by FIFA on Thursday has not changed since the 2023 ranking. Argentina remain in first place after winning the World Cup in Qatar while France and England are in second and third place.
Brazil and the Netherlands also remain in fifth and sixth place respectively.
Africa’s leading nation in FIFA Rankings Morocco also moved to one step in the latest rankings from 13th to 12th place.
South Africa moved up eight places to 58th in the latest FIFA rankings. Before the AFCON tournament, Bafana Bafana were placed 66th in the world. As a result, South Africa are one of the top 10 African nations in the latest world rankings.
The highest Fifa ranking Bafana Bafana has seen is position 16 in the world following their 1996 Afcon triumph under the late coach Clive Barker.
The national team’s worst ever ranking was number 90 back in 2010 under coach Joel Santana’s tenure ahead of the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Algeria, Mali, and Cameroon complete the line-up for Africa’s 10 best national teams in the latest rankings.
“Indeed, across the two continents, no fewer than six teams have scaled ten places or more. Amongst the African sides, Côte d’Ivoire (39th, up 10) reap the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil, secured following an eventful tournament campaign,” FIFA wrote on its website while announcing the latest ranking.
“Beaten finalists Nigeria (28th, up 14) make significant strides but are no match for the Angola side they ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), who are the biggest climbers in the latest instalment of the global ranking.”