Bafana Bafana Eye Top 50 Ranking with Progress Under Hugo Broos
Bafana Bafana are on the verge of entering the top 50 in the latest FIFA rankings, currently sitting at position 55. The senior national team has made significant progress under Belgian coach Hugo Broos, who inherited a side ranked 75th when he took over from Molefi Ntseki in May 2021.
At that time, South Africa was struggling after failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving the team at one of its lowest points in recent history. Broos has since guided Bafana to third place at the Africa Cup of Nations finals and is preparing to lead the squad back to the continental tournament in Morocco at the end of the year.
World Cup qualification remains the top priority. Bafana can secure their place in the 2026 World Cup with wins against Zimbabwe on 6 October and Rwanda on 13 October, avoiding any complications from the ongoing FIFA investigation into Teboho Mokoena’s eligibility in the March match against Lesotho.
A top 50 ranking will be achievable with victories in the remaining qualifiers and strong performances at AFCON. The continental tournament runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, with Bafana set to face Angola, Egypt, and Zimbabwe in the group stage. Progressing to the knockout rounds will further boost their FIFA ranking.
Bafana were last in the top 50 in October 2011, reaching 49th place. Their highest-ever ranking came in August 1996, climbing to 16th just months after winning the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. The current trajectory under Broos shows that South Africa could return to international prominence, combining World Cup qualification with a competitive AFCON campaign to secure a top 50 spot by year-end.
