Bafana continue slide down FIFA rankings

Cape Town - Bafana Bafana's FIFA rankings freefall has continued as the August edition of the rankings were released on Thursday. 

South Africa are now ranked as the 72nd best side in the world and have fallen one spot on the continental rankings to be ranked as the 17th best side in Africa.

The national team travel to face Mauritania on September 4 in their second Group M match as Shakes Mashaba's side bid to qualify for AFCON 2017. South Africa were unable to beat Gambia in their opening group match in June.

At the top of the rankings, World Cup 2014 winners Germany have dropped another place after being dispossessed of their number one spot in the July rankings. The World Champions are now ranked third after leaders Argentina and Belgium. 

The major move inside the top 10 saw the Netherlands drop seven places to sit in 12th position. Romania remain the surprise inclusion inside the top 10 while Copa America 2015 winners Chile round out the top 10. 

Algeria (19th) and Ivory Coast (21st) remain first and second on the continental rankings but did not see their global ranking move in the past month.

72. South Africa

CAF Rankings:

1. Algeria
2. Ivory Coast
3. Ghana
4. Tunisia
5. Senegal
6. Cameroon
7. Congo
8. Cape Verde Islands 
9. Egypt 
10. Nigeria 
11. Congo DR
12. Guinea
13. Equatorial Guinea
14. Mali
15. Gabon

17. South Africa