FIFA have released the latest world ranking of 2023 and before the African Cup of Nations kicks off next month.
Bafana Bafana end the year in 12th position on the continent and in 66th overall, which indicated just a minor overall improvement throughout the calendar year.
Last year, Hugo Broos’ men also ended in 12th position among the CAF nations, but were 67th overall.
Despite the lack of movement in the FIFA rankings, Bafana lost just one game in 2023, their recent surprise 2-0 loss in Rwanda – when Broos’ men struggled to adjust to the pitch conditions on a synthetic field after a heavy downpour just before kick-off.
They won four and drew four of their other eight games, including eye-coaching 2-1 win over Africa’s highest-ranked nation Morocco in June. It leaves hope that with a good showing at the AFCON, Bafana can finally climb up the FIFA ranking by the time the next edition will be announced.
Bafana will start the tournament against 51-placed Mali on 16 January, before facing 115th-placed Namibia and finishing off the group against 28th-placed Tunisia.
Meanwhile, the top three in Africa haven’t changed over the course of 2023, which also makes those three nations favourites to lift the title in Ivory Coast come February.
Top-ranked CAF teams below:
