Bafana back into top 50

Bafana Bafana have moved up two places to number 49 in the world and No 8 in Africa, lifting above Burkina Faso in the continental rankings.

It will be scant consolation for the national side though, who are still smarting from their failure to qualify for the Nations Cup to be held in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, starting in January.

But they are certainly not alone among the continent’s top 10 ranked sides in not making the finals – Egypt (second in Africa), Algeria (fourth), Nigeria (sixth) and Cameroon (seventh) will also not be there.

Cote d’Ivoire remain the best-placed African side as they lead the continental list, and are placed 19th in the global rankings, followed by Egypt, Ghana, Algeria and Senegal.

The biggest risers in Africa are Rwanda, boosted by their 1-0 win in Benin in their final qualifier this month, who move up 31 places to number 112 in the world and 29 in Africa.

The biggest fallers are Benin, who drop 27 places to 119 in the global list and 30 in Africa.

There was just one change in the top five in the global list with Brazil moving into fifth. Spain remain the top side in the world, followed by Netherlands, Germany, Uruguay and the Brazilians.