Banyana Banyana Drop in Latest FIFA World Rankings

Banyana Banyana have seen a slight drop in the latest FIFA world rankings, now sitting 54th globally. Despite recent victories, including back-to-back wins over Lesotho, Desiree Ellis’ squad has faced a challenging 2024 campaign, marked by a series of inconsistent results.

Mixed Results in 2024

South Africa’s national women’s football team started the year positively with two wins over Tanzania, securing their spot in the fourth round of Olympic qualifiers. However, their bid to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was thwarted after two losses to Nigeria, leading to their elimination from the competition.

Following this setback, Banyana Banyana managed to draw against Senegal and secured victories over Namibia, Eswatini, Seychelles, and Mozambique in the COSAFA Women’s Cup. They reached the final but were narrowly defeated by Zambia in a penalty shootout.

Struggles Against Top-Tier Opponents

In addition to their continental success, Banyana faced some of the world’s top teams in 2024, including Jamaica, Denmark, and the reigning European champions, England. Unfortunately, the South African side failed to secure a win in any of these encounters, highlighting the challenges they face against high-level opposition.

Ranking Impact

Despite the mixed form, Banyana Banyana only dropped one place in the FIFA world rankings, now sitting at 54th. The team’s position remains strong within Africa, with the only CAF side ranked higher than them being Nigeria’s Super Falcons, who are currently 36th globally.

Looking Ahead

Banyana Banyana will aim to bounce back from a tough year and regain their momentum as they prepare for future competitions. Despite the dip in the rankings, they continue to hold a prominent position in African women’s football and will be looking to build on their successes at the continental level.