Bafana Bafana have dropped down two places in the latest FIFA rankings and are now 13th in Africa despite a run of nine games unbeaten under Hugo Broos.
It could prove to be a major blow ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations draw in Ivory Coast next month as South Africa will likely be placed in Pot 3 instead of Pot 2.
This is due to DR Congo, who South Africa beat in their latest fixture, 1-0 at Orlando Stadium, moving into 64th place overall and 12th in Africa.
It’s likely due to Congo playing in more competitive fixtures, with six AFCON qualifiers, to South Africa’s four, whilst friendlies against lower-ranked nations counted against Bafana as they get lesser points in the ranking calculations.
Within the previous rankings, South Africa were amongst the Pot 2 sides with Cameroon, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana.
But now, they look set to be replaced by DRC and moving into pot 3 with Cape Verde, Guniea, Zambia, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Mauritania.
This will likely set up a Group of Death case for Hugo Broos and his troops in the latest continental showpiece in the new year.
Meanwhile, Morocco have stayed the highest-ranked African team, moving up one spot in 13th, followed by Senegal in 20th and Tunisia in 29th globally.
CAF Top 10 (worldwide position):
- Morocco (13)
- Senegal (20)
- Tunisia (29)
- Algeria (34)
- Egypt (35)
- Nigeria (40)
- Cameroon (41)
- Mali (49)
- Ivory Coast (50)
- Burkina Faso (58)
