South Africa

Bafana Improve In FIFA Rankings, Cameroon Top Africa

South Africa have improved their position in the FIFA rankings thanks to three consecutive victories in competitive and friendly games during the month of October.

Nov 13, 2008 7:33:14 AM

South Africa national football team (AFP)

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South Africa national football team (AFP)

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A 1-0 victory against Equatorial Guinea in Malabo during the final African Nations Cup/2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier and two wins in friendly games against Malawi and Ghana at home have been the keys to South Africa's mini revival.

The results improved Bafana's standing from 85 to 80, although much more work needs to be done in an attempt to improve their ranking ahead of the World Cup, to be hosted in the country during 2010.

South Africa's next game is against Cameroon, the highest ranked African country, in an international friendly game dedicated to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund next Wednesday. For their part, they dropped two places from 12 to 14 in the latest rankings.

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon provide a tall order for the South Africans, who know that a win or draw is necessary to continue their recent improvement.

Joel Santana is expected to announce his squad for the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup today, with very few changes to the team which defeated Ghana 2-1 expected.

FIFA RANKINGS (AFRICAN COUNTRIES)

1) Cameroon (14)
2) Egypt (21)
3) Nigeria (22)
4) Ghana (26)
5) Cote d’Ivoire (28)
6) Morocco (43)
7) Tunisia (47)
8) Mali (49)
9) Senegal (51)
10) Gabon (59)
11) Burkina Faso (61)
12) Algeria (63)
13) Angola (68)
14) Congo (69)
15) Zambia (71)
16) South Africa (80)

Peter Pedroncelli