Banyana Banyana end 2022 on a high

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana ended the year 2022 in second place on the continent and 54^th in the world on the latest Coca Cola/FIFA Women’s World rankings released today (Friday, 9 December 2022).

Nigeria remains the top-ranked African nation in the world on position 45, and number one on the continent.

Cameroon, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire make up the top five with Equatorial Guinea, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Zambia completing the top 10.

Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco and Zambia will represent Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.

Top 10 ranked women’s African countries

1. Nigeria (45^th World)
2. South Africa ( 54^th)
3. Cameroon (58^th)
4. Ghana (59^th)
5. Cote d’Ivoire (65^th) 
6. Equatorial Guinea (72^nd)
7. Morocco (76^th)
8. Tunisia (78^th)
9. Algeria (80^th)
10. Zambia (81^st)

This time last year, the reigning African champions were third on the continent and 56^th in the world.
Their best world ranking was in 2018 when they were on position 48, while their worst was in 2007 on the 74^thspot.

At the announcement of the first rankings of the year, (25 March 2022), South Africa was 4^th on the continent and 57^th in the world. While they improved their position to third on the continent in June, their international ranking dropped a spot down to 58^th.

Their exploits in Morocco at the 2022 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations where they lifted the continental title, saw them move two places on the continent to second place and jump four spots up to 54^th in the world.

And that is how it stayed and they will finish the year as the second-best ranked country on the continent behind Nigeria – this was perhaps after a run of six unbeaten matches at the WAFCON to end the tournament without defeat.

Banyana Banyana’s 2022 FIFA World Rankings:

• 9 December 2022 (2^nd, 54^th)

• 13 October 2022 (2^nd, 54^th)

• 5 August 2022 (2^nd, 54^th)

• 17 June 2022 (3^rd, 58^th)

• 25 March 2022 (4^th, 57^th)

• 10 December 2021 (3^rd, 56^th)

Banyana Banyana played a total of 16 matches in 2022 – winning nine, drawing one and losing six.

The fixtures included the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the COSAFA Women’s Championship and international friendly matches.

South Africa’s main blemishes were in the latter – going down to Zambia, 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup runners-up Netherlands, 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia and twice against the seventh world-ranked Brazil. The other loss was also to Zambia in the final of the COSAFA Women’s Championship.

Banyana Banyana was forced to field different teams in two separate events which were taking place at the same time – the COSAFA CUP and two friendly matches against Brazil.

Under the tutelage of U17 Women’s National Team head coach Simphiwe Dludlu, the South Africans grabbed silver in the regional competition (losing to Zambia in the final) while Desiree Ellis led the other squad in the clashes against the South Americans.

In the 16 outings, Banyana Banyana scored 21 goals, and conceded 27 – the bulk of the latter in the friendly matches (21), including a heavy 6-0, 5-1 and 4-1 defeats to Brazil, the Netherlands and Australia respectively.

They played nine home matches and other nine away.

OPPONENTS	RESULTS	COMPETITION	DATE & VENUE	OUTCOME
(a) Zambia	3 – 0	FRIENDLY	12 Feb 22, Zambia	L
(a) Netherlands	5 – 1	FRIENDLY	12 April 22, Netherlands	L
(a) Nigeria	2 – 1	WAFCON	4 July 22, Morocco	W
(a) Burundi	3 – 1	WAFCON	7 July 22, Morocco	W
(a) Botswana	1 – 0	WAFCON	10 July 22, Morocco	W
(a) Tunisia	1 – 0	WAFCON	14 July 22, Morocco	W
(a) Zambia	1 – 0	WAFCON	18 July 22, Morocco	W
(a) Morocco	2 – 1	WAFCON	23 July 22, Morocco	W
(h) Angola	3 – 0	COSAFA CUP	31 Aug 22, Gqeberha	W
(h) Brazil	0 – 3	FRIENDLY	2 Sep 22, Soweto	L
(h) Mauritius	4 – 0	COSAFA CUP	3 Sep 22, Gqeberha	W
(h) Brazil	0 – 6	FRIENDLY	5 Sep 22, Durban	L
(h) Mozambique	1 – 1	COSAFA CUP	6 Sep 22, Gqeberha	D
(h) Namibia	1 – 0	COSAFA CUP	9 Sep 22, Gqeberha	W
(h) Zambia	0 – 1	COSAFA CUP	11 Sep 22, Gqeberha	L
(h) Australia	1 – 4	FRIENDLY	8 Oct 22, London	L

By Matlhomola Morake