The steady rise of South Africa on the monthly FIFA rankings continued Wednesday when they reached fourth place in Africa. Ghana, Ivory Coast and reigning African champions Egypt retained the top three positions while South Africa and Nigeria swopped slots and resurgent Senegal climbed three spots to sixth.
Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Libya complete the top 10 in rankings that are becoming increasingly significant with seedings for national team competitions based on them. South Africa are ranked 38 in the world - their highest position since the calculation system was revamped five years ago by the Zurich-based world football governing body.
Bafana Bafana (The Boys) triumphed 1-0 in Tanzania last Saturday with a late first-half header from recalled defender Siyabonga Sangweni settling the Dar es Salaam friendly. Coach Pitso Mosimane is proud that South Africa have risen 48 places since he succeeded Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira in mid-2010 after the World Cup hosts made a first round exit despite defeating France in their final game.
"When the 2014 World Cup qualifying draw is made on July 30 in Brazil the FIFA rankings released that month will determine which countries have first round byes," said Mosimane. "The rankings are also used when allocating seeds for the second round draw and we want to be among the top ranked countries in Africa to avoid the possibility of being placed in a 'group of death'."
South Africa drew a very short straw in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers when placed in same pool as Nigeria and finished a distant second after losing to the 'Super Eagles' in Abuja and Port Elizabeth. Although host nations are guaranteed to be among the 32 World Cup teams, Bafana Bafana had to take part because the fixtures doubled as eliminators for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola and they failed to qualify.
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