Bafana drop another place in FIFA rankings

Cape Town - Bafana Bafana have slipped one place when the October FIFA rankings were released on Thursday. 

South Africa are now ranked as the 73rd best side in the world while Bafana Bafana remain in 17th position in the continental rankings.

The national team slumped to a shock 3-1 defeat to Mauritania in an AFCON 2017 qualifier in September but bounced back with a 1-0 friendly win over Senegal to retain the Nelson Mandela Challenge trophy.

October will provide Shakes Mashaba's side a real opportunity to correct their rankings slide when they travel to South America for two international friendlies before two CHAN 2016 qualifiers against Angola. 

South Africa face Costa Rica on October 8 and Honduras five days later. Mashaba's side will then face Angola at home on October17 before travelling to Luanda a week later for the return leg.

Argentina continue to top the FIFA rankings with 2014 Soccer World Cup winners Germany moving up into second place. Romania have crashed out of the top 10 while Wales continue to rank above England.

Spain make a notable return to the top 10 and sit one place higher than 7th placed Brazil. 

Algeria (19th) and Ivory Coast (21st) and Ghana (25th) remain the leading African trio with only Ghana progressing up the rankings, up two spots, in the latest edition. 

FIFA World Rankings:

1. Argentina
2. Germany
3. Belgium
4. Portugal
5. Colombia
6. Spain
7. Brazil
8. Wales
9. Chile
10. England

73. South Africa

CAF Rankings:

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

17. South Africa