The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana have dropped seven places in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola FIFA Women’s rankings released on Friday, 15 December 2023.
The African Champions started the day in position 45 following their exploits at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in August, but are now placed 52nd in the world. They, however, remain second on the continent.
Since the global women’s football spectacle, South Africa has faced six countries and played nine matches in total. They took on the USA in back to back friendly games in Cincinnati and Chicago in September, losing both encounters. Earlier in October they participated in the 2023 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship and locked horns with Malawi, Madagascar and Eswatini – losing the first fixture and winning the latter two.
Later that month they faced the DR Congo in two-legged 2024 Paris Olympic qualifiers, drawing one and winning the other and they also registered the same results against Burkina Faso in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. In nine matches, South Africa won four, drew two and lost three.
Algeria has dropped out of the top 10 on the continent, and has been replaced by Mali, the only country to make some gains, while the rest dropped in their rankings.
CAF FIFA/COCA-COLA WOMEN’S WORLD RANKINGS:
- Nigeria, the number one placed nation on the continent, falling from 32 to 34; (dropped 2 places)
- South Africa from 45 to 52 (-7)
- Morocco from 58 to 60 (-2)
- Ghana from 59 to 61 (-2)
- Cameroon from 56 to 68 (-12)
- Zambia from 69 to 70 (-1)
- Cote d’Ivoire from 66 to 71 (-5)
- Tunisia from 76 to 77 (-1)
- Mali from 80 to 81 (+1)
- Equatorial Guinea from 79 to 82 (-3)
Around the world, reigning Women’s World Champions Spain has shot to the top of the rankings for the first time ever – becoming only the fourth team in history to occupy the position after the USA, Germany and Sweden.
The situation has not changed much in the top 10 in the world, with only Brazil out of the equation and replaced by Korea DPR:
- Spain
- USA
- France
- England
- Sweden
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Japan
- Korea DPR
- Canada
The last FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking was published in August – and since then, over 400 matches have been played including, qualifiers for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024, UEFA Women’s Nations League, WAFCON, among others.
A record 192 countries have been listed, with six newly-ranked nations coming into the picture.
Matches played in total:
419
Leaders:
Spain
Moves into top 10:
Korea DPR (9th)
Moves out of top 10:
Brazil (11th)
Most matches played:
Botswana, China PR, Chinese Taipei, Korea DPR, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia (9 matches)
Biggest move by points:
Tanzania (up 68.24 points)
Biggest move by ranks:
Namibia (up 14 ranks)
Biggest drop by points:
Sweden (down 71.08 points)
Biggest drop by ranks:
Cayman Islands (down 14 ranks)
Newly ranked teams:
6 (Korea DPR, Central African Republic, American Samoa, Macau, Madagascar, Bahamas)
Teams that are no longer ranked
None
The next women’s world rankings are only due in March 2024.
https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women?dateId=ranking_20230825
By Matlhomola Morake
