Bafana Bafana Draw Against Zimbabwe Leaves World Cup Qualification and FIFA Ranking in Jeopardy
Bafana Bafana’s 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe on Friday has intensified pressure on the South African national team as their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hangs in the balance.
The match was expected to be straightforward, coming after South Africa forfeited three points against Lesotho in March for fielding an ineligible Teboho Mokoena. Instead, the draw left the team in a precarious position in Group J.
Complicating matters, Benin defeated Rwanda on the same day, meaning South Africa now needs a win over Rwanda on Tuesday at Mbombela Stadium to stay in contention. Qualification also depends on Nigeria securing victory against Benin. The Super Eagles would advance as group winners if Bafana fail to win, creating a scenario where South Africa’s fate is partly dependent on another team’s results.
The draw against Zimbabwe has also negatively affected South Africa’s FIFA ranking. Bafana started the match ranked 55th, while Zimbabwe was positioned 125th. The result caused South Africa to lose 6.75 ranking points, dropping temporarily to 57th. A victory over lower-ranked Rwanda will yield fewer points, making it difficult for Bafana to enter the top 50 this month.
Under coach Hugo Broos, the team has made significant progress. When Broos took over in May 2021, Bafana were ranked 75th, following failure to qualify for the AFCON finals. Since then, the team reached third place at the Africa Cup of Nations and is preparing for the tournament in Morocco later this year.
Despite improvements in team performance and consistency, the focus now shifts to World Cup qualification, which carries more significance than rankings. South Africa last qualified for the World Cup finals in 2002 via the qualification route.
FIFA will release the updated rankings on October 23, providing the first official reflection of Bafana’s current form since the draw against Zimbabwe. The team’s results in the remaining matches will determine both their qualification fate and future ranking trajectory.
