Bafana Bafana close in on FIFA top 50 as unbeaten run continues
Hugo Broos Since assuming the role of Bafana Bafana head coach, Hugo Broos has helped Bafana Bafana climb to 55th in the FIFA rankings, just shy of the top 50 for the first time since 2011. Their 22-match unbeaten run, recent World Cup qualifier results, and upcoming AFCON campaign could push them even higher.
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Bafana Bafana are edging closer to the FIFA top 50, with South Africa’s national team now ranked 55th in the world and climbing steadily on the back of a remarkable unbeaten run.
The last time the side cracked the top 50 was in October 2011, when they reached 49th place. Their highest-ever ranking came in August 1996, just months after lifting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy on home soil, when they stood 16th in the world.
22 matches unbeaten
IOL's Herman Gibbs reports that under Belgian coach Hugo Broos, Bafana are currently on a 22-match unbeaten streak. Recent World Cup qualifiers added weight to that record — a convincing 3-0 win over Lesotho and a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
The results kept South Africa on top of Group C in the qualification race and lifted them from 10th to 9th among Africa’s footballing nations.
Broos’s arrival in May 2021 marked a turning point. At the time, Bafana were ranked 75th and struggling even to qualify for AFCON under the previous coach Molefi Ntseki. Since then, the team has moved past nations like Mali in the rankings and reignited belief among supporters.
Building on AFCON success
Broos has already overseen a significant achievement — guiding Bafana to third place at the 2022 AFCON. Later this year, they will return to the continental stage when Morocco hosts the tournament, with expectations running high that progress through the group phase could propel the team further up the global ladder.
Victories in their upcoming October qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda would also strengthen South Africa’s chances of securing a World Cup spot and could be the final push needed to break back into the top 50.
A nation watching
The upward climb has brought a renewed sense of optimism to South African football, with fans seeing echoes of the side’s former highs. From a low of 75th to within touching distance of the top 50 in just three years, Bafana’s rise has been one of resilience and steady improvement.
If their unbeaten run holds and AFCON brings more strong results, the rankings could climb even higher — keeping alive hopes of not just World Cup qualification, but also a return to the days when South Africa stood tall among the global elite.