Pitso Mosimane leads South Africa back into FIFA’s world top 50

South Africa have returned to the FIFA world top 50 for the first time in years after a perfect international window under coach Pitso Mosimane.

Bafana Bafana have climbed to 48th in the global rankings and are now 10th among African nations, marking a significant milestone in the country’s recent football revival.

The rise follows an extended three-match camp in which South Africa won all of their fixtures. The run included two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, followed by an international friendly victory over Egypt.

Those three consecutive wins gave Bafana Bafana the momentum required to move back into the top 50, while also offering the squad valuable competitive experience against strong opposition from across the continent.

Three wins strengthen Mosimane’s start

South Africa’s results during the window reflect the progress made since Mosimane took charge. The victories over Guinea and Eritrea secured a flawless start to the team’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, before the win against Egypt completed an unbeaten and highly productive period.

The performances also highlighted the tactical discipline and attacking efficiency Mosimane has brought to the squad. Each result contributed to the ranking improvement and strengthened the sense that the team is moving in a positive direction.

The achievement is an important step towards South Africa’s highest-ever FIFA ranking of 16th, reached on 28 August 1996.

That peak came shortly after Bafana Bafana won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. South Africa defeated Tunisia in the final to claim their first Africa Cup of Nations title, during what remains the most successful era in the national team’s history.

Their current position of 48th shows the progress made under Mosimane, although the side still has significant ground to make up before it can approach the heights reached in 1996.

The latest run has created momentum as South Africa continue their qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. It also provides a platform for the team’s longer-term ambitions of qualifying for future FIFA World Cup tournaments.

With three successive victories now behind them, Bafana Bafana have made a notable return to the global top 50. Maintaining that progress will be the next challenge as Mosimane seeks to build on the team’s latest ranking rise.