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South Africa climb in Fifa rankings

South Africa climb in Fifa rankings

Posted: 2010-07-14 10:51

South Africa have climbed to number 66 in the latest Fifa World Rankings, their highest position in three years.

Bafana Bafana's good showing at the 2010 World Cup, where they beat France, at the time ranked ninth in the world, and drew with Mexico, who were in 17th, has seen them move into the Top 70.

They are also now ranked 12th in Africa, a climb of five places, and a platform from which they can now push for a place in the Top 10.

South Africa were not the biggest movers amongst the African teams though. Botswana's excellent 1-0 win in Tunisia, followed by a 1-0 home success over Chad in their 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers saw them jump a massive 23 places in the rankings to number 93.

But the biggest movers of all were New Zealand, the one of the 32 teams at the 2010 World Cup to go through the tournament unbeaten. They jumped 24 places to number 54 following their draws with Slovenia, Italy and Paraguay.

World champions Spain have overtaken Brazil at the top of the rankings, with the Netherlands moving into second place, relegating the South Americans to third.

Germany are fourth, followed by Argentina, while Uruguay have leapt 10 places to sixth. Surprisingly, England move up one place to seven despite their dismal World Cup showing, while Portugal fall five places to eighth.

Egypt move up to ninth, their highest ever ranking, despite not playing this month, while Chile round out the top 10. France were the big fallers out of the Top 10, dropping to number 21 after their dismal showing in South Africa.

In the CAF Rankings, Egypt head the way, followed by Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Algeria. Cameroon are the big losers, dropping from second to seventh.

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 : 2010-07-14 11:04

go bafana go.....pitso we want this team to reach top 20 b4 2014....we nolonger going down,we go up,yu cn even use zccplartform frm thomas madigage its fine as long as we can get there

Khanyisa : 2010-07-14 11:07

Wel dn bb dats a gud position & i hope u'l do mch better in da future.

Bin Laden: 2010-07-14 11:09

Tshapa Bafana bafana Tshapa...Proudly yellow man,Yellowlicoius

pet : 2010-07-14 11:12

why should GHANA BE PLACED AT 23rd in the world?

Soccer Critic (size13): 2010-07-14 11:18

eish 66 mara... but atleast we are doing something positive!!! eish 66 ngempela not even 49? if we are 66 than what about Trinidad and Tobago and Guetamala????????

ay angboni kahle

Soccer Critic (size13): 2010-07-14 11:19

pet : 2010-07-14 11:12 [ Report ]

its because they are purely better than us(afrique de sud)!!!

eish lithini leli mpondo vele???

Bin Laden: 2010-07-14 11:21

Pitso must begin with the preparations as well.we 1st start by couqering southern africa,go on to africa then the world by 2014. YES we can

sam: 2010-07-14 11:26

voetsek these goats deserve 150 they embarrased us

Charles : 2010-07-14 11:27

This FIFA rankings are deceptive.

Sweyts: 2010-07-14 11:41

Good to see we are on the way up, it shows progress after sliding down the pecking order under Santana.

We would have gone a bit higher had we played and defeated more reputable opposition during our WC preparations, instead of the no name teams we managed to beat.

2014 starts here and right now! Phez'kwabo!

Chisto: 2010-07-14 11:48

At least we are improving. Let's push to inside 20 places in fifa and inside 3 in caf rankings.

Wonder: 2010-07-14 11:49

Well done boys, now we need only to improve.....!!!!!!

Mopheme...: 2010-07-14 11:54

South Africa must go to number 1 in Africa and not be anything less than that.

Mopheme...: 2010-07-14 11:57

Cameroon deserved to drop to seventh place, they simply played mosono feela.

thibos: 2010-07-14 12:08

ranking 1 million or 66 in the world does not change the fact we r second best if not 3rd in world soccer, it does not change the fact that we were eliminated in the 1sst round on home soil, sies maan we r gettin pathethic by the day were we just celebrate mediocrity as if we r bunch of retards, go on celebrate failure as normal

thibos: 2010-07-14 12:08

ranking 1 million or 66 in the world does not change the fact we r second best if not 3rd in world soccer, it does not change the fact that we were eliminated in the 1sst round on home soil, sies maan we r gettin pathethic by the day were we just celebrate mediocrity as if we r bunch of retards, go on celebrate failure as normal

Dikotsi: 2010-07-14 12:09

Have u noticed that Egypt is in the FIFA top 10 ranking at no. 10. This should tell us something about either the Fifa ranking or Egypts football discipline and might.
Tis is some small improvement for Bafana but i think Fifa or someone should explain how they award points for rankings.

MrSelbi: 2010-07-14 12:21

There is only 1 way...it up. No more sliding down or hell will break loose.

thibos: 2010-07-14 12:21

i think the now the whole of south africa must blow their vuvuzelas and celebrate that crap, it will take another 50 years before the world can take south africa seriously in soccer, we r bunch of jokes who celebrates anything,even death, we just celebrate

african man : 2010-07-14 12:35

SA fans are actually celebrating being 66th!their highest ranking for 3yrs!hahaahaha sorry guys i dont mean to be rude laughing but to be honest going by this info bafana is not a team to be reckoned with in africa never mind in the world! Also how did england move up 1 place by winning 1 game out of 4 in the world cup??

KaMashobana: 2010-07-14 12:36

Thibos:

U can say that again my man!!In this country, especially in football we celebrate anything, even loosing. Can some1 tell me how on earth is no 66 worth celebrating. If BB had advanced just to the 1/4s... we will be in the top 35 bracket. This would be an achievement.

Chain Gang: 2010-07-14 12:37

If we win the AFCON I am sure we will jump 17 places again.


Chain Gang Commander

BobbyMotaung: 2010-07-14 12:40

But since Pitso is coming in as a coach, I'm afraid we will go down very fast. We will see the return of Katza in the National team.

Kenneth : 2010-07-14 13:03

The world cup is like a chick you chase around for a long time without getting any. She answers you calls and calls but you dont get F.a.k.o.l in bed bru. Goes on dates with you and the mood is right, but just before you hit it; she asks to leave or sleep in your spare room. (THE BID)
Eventually she tell you yall can SEE each other but no NUKI before marriage.Damnnn! (WINNING THE BID)
Flip! but I've been seeing ya AZZ for 2 years? You agree to SEE HER but not see her, you know what i mean. Then you get married and she divorces you after 4 weeks and says " you are good in bed, but we aren't meant for one another"
That's the world cup fever, the shyt's Gone ............

Vusi: 2010-07-14 13:17

Then are we suppose to celebrate? this is pure failer to me.

Gee: 2010-07-14 13:27

I actually don't see anyone celebrating but I see the bloggers acknowledging the fact that we have moved up the ranks. Acknowledge and Celebrate have two different meaning. Lets hope we work all the way to the top of the rankings.

melzakes: 2010-07-14 13:50

Johannesburg - Benni McCarthy has admitted he hates vuvuzelas and hopes they never make their way into the English Premier League.

McCarthy was snubbed for the final Bafana squad for the Soccer World Cup but was in the country as a fan.

But whether he joined the chorus of vuvuzelas is unlikely after admitting he can't stand them.

"It's the worst thing," he told West Ham's official website.

"It's a typical South African thing, but the reason I hate them is that when I am playing I can't hear myself and I can't get my message across.

"It's the most annoying thing and you could go deaf, so I hope they don't bring them into English football.

"That is South African football, this is the Premier League, which is the singing and the cheering your team on. That's what it's all about."

However, despite his antipathy towards the little trumpets, McCarthy believes hosting the World Cup has already made a positive, lasting impact on the nation of his birth.

"For the country it has been really nice," he said. "For the infrastructure, the country is in a better state.

"A lot of people had a completely different perception of South Africa and now they have some really nice things to say about it and everyone wants to go there. It is now a holiday destination."

The West Ham striker returned to pre-season training early in a bid to shed some kilos before the new season starts, which is an indication he still has ambitions to play at the top level.

"We have Benni McCarthy in our squad and he is a good player," added Hammers boss Avram Grant.

"We are helping him but he needs to help himself to be better. So far from what I have seen in training, he is doing well."


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Chisto: 2010-07-14 13:50

Gee: 2010-07-14 13:27

You get the point, we are not celebrating but we merely acknowledge the improvement, there is a difference between the two. Bloggers should be reminded that the journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.

LeKhosi: 2010-07-14 14:40

Let's support SHaba

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/goalofthetournament/video/index.html

Dee: 2010-07-14 17:21

SA used to be no. 1 in Africa and 16 in the world. Surely we can do better.

Dee: 2010-07-14 17:22

SA used to be no. 1 in Africa and 16 in the world. Surely we can do better.

KidKudu7: 2010-07-14 17:54

Its time for Bafana Bafana to win something now preferably a CECAFA cup or bring back the COSAFA cup just to bring that mentality of winning to our boys. By the time we play in 2014 African Nations Cup & Brazil 2014 world cup, the boys will be at their best!!!

Lets be realistic the 2012 African Nations Cup, we will not win it but will be able to show an excellent progress, possible a semi-final berth. Bafana Kao Fela!!!

KidKudu7: 2010-07-14 17:55

Its time for Bafana Bafana to win something now preferably a CECAFA cup or bring back the COSAFA cup just to bring that mentality of winning to our boys. By the time we play in 2014 African Nations Cup & Brazil 2014 world cup, the boys will be at their best!!!

Lets be realistic the 2012 African Nations Cup, we will not win it but will be able to show an excellent progress, possible a semi-final berth. Bafana Kao Fela!!!

shapa bafana shapa..jeez im so so tired abt ada fellow african making jokes abt our national team jst bcz we hav da best league wt da psl....shapa shapa bafana bami,we nw namba 12 in africa,in no tym,we wl be number one. : 2010-07-14 18:36

zulu

JMasterJ: 2010-07-14 21:11

There is no improvement here, remember BB only qualified as host to play in the SWC. Do we have a strategy to compete in a world stage? Do we have have the competent technicall staff? Are our resources managed properly? if we qualify for the ACON2012, I would say there is improvement, but still not celebrate.

Njia4life: 2010-07-14 22:12

go bafana go.....to where, South Africans will never-ever grow in football because the refuse to do things in their own way, are you better than the US, Germany, Swiss, France, England even Portugal, if South African can do the right thing, beleive me, the will grow, but if now......nowhere....if you climb to 66, what of Nigeria at 30....so the difference is clear..i hope FIFA did not come from Nigeria.