Bafana jump in FIFA rankings

Zurich - Bafana Bafana's climb in the FIFA world rankings has continued in October as they improved their position by jumping six positions to 52nd.

Soccer World Cup winners Spain still reign in the FIFA rankings, and Croatia and Russia return to the top 10 using victories in 2012 European Championship qualifiers.

France have bounced back into the top 20 after their historic low last month, and the United States dropped to No 25 having played only friendlies since the World Cup.

Spain lead the Netherlands in second, while Brazil rise to No 3 in a swap with fourth-ranked Germany. Argentina are fifth, then England.

Russia's wins over Ireland and Macedonia lifted them 15 spots to No 10, edging African champions Egypt into 11th place.

Australia heads the Asian countries at No 21. 

Top 20 in FIFA rankings:

1. Spain
2. Netherlands
3. Brazil
4. Germany
5. Argentina
6. England
7. Uruguay
8. Portugal
9. Croatia
10. Russia
11. Egypt
12. Greece
13. Norway
14. Chile
15. Slovenia
16. Italy
17. Ghana
18. France
19. Ivory Coast
20. Slovakia

Also:

52. South Africa

Top 20 African countries in latest FIFA rankings: (World ranking in parenthesis)

1. Egypt (11)
2. Ghana (17)
3. Côte d'Ivoire (19)
4. Algeria (33)
5. Nigeria (34)
6. Burkina Faso (37)
7. Cameroon (38)
8. Gabon (39)
9. Tunisia (45)
10. Guinea (47)
11. South Africa (52)
12. Uganda (63)
13. Mali (64)
14. Benin (68)
15. Senegal (73)
16. Zambia (76)
17. Morocco (77)
18. Botswana (79)
19. Libya (81)
20. Cape Verde Islands (82)