Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Bafana Bafana's downward spiral continued yesterday when Fifa released its monthly Coca-Cola rankings for December.
South Africa, who have been a disgrace since the appointment of Englishman Stuart Baxter three years ago, are now 67th in the world. The once-feared Bafana Bafana were 66th last month when Egypt beat them 1-0 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge in England.
Brazil remained at the top of the global rankings with reigning world champions Italy second, followed by Argentina and France.
Nigeria are the highest ranked African country, remaining ninth on the table, followed by Cameroon in position 11, Ivory Coast (18), Ghana (28), Mali (36), Morocco (39), Senegal (41), Angola (56), Togo (60), Burkina Faso (61), Zambia (62) and DR Congo (66).
Of the other southern African countries, Zimbabwe are 76th in the world, with Malawi in position 104, followed by Botswana (108), Namibia (114), Mozambique (128), Swaziland (148) and Lesotho (160).
In Africa, South Africa are ranked a disappointing 16th with the Super Eagles of Nigeria still enjoying a comfortable lead.
Bafana Bafana get a chance to better their ranking early next year when they take on Zambia in a 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in March.
Pressure will be on new coach Carlos Alberto "Thatha Mamillions" Parreira, who starts his job on January 1.