Mosimane vows to keep scheduling strong opposition to improve Bafana’s FIFA ranking
Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has reaffirmed that the national team will continue to organise matches against strong opposition in order to maintain and improve its current 48th place in the FIFA world rankings.
Speaking to SABC Sport, Mosimane said the recent climb into the top 50 was the result of deliberate choices rather than chance.
Bafana beat Guinea and Eritrea in AFCON 2027 qualifiers before defeating Egypt — then ranked third in Africa and 25th globally — in an international friendly.
“Yes, it’s humbling. Of course, we have to acknowledge the team where I found it,” Mosimane said referring to Hugo Broos’ era. “But if you win against Egypt, you win more points. If you beat Guinea, you get more points than when you beat Eritrea, so yes, we are working towards that.”
The coach made clear he has no intention of switching to softer fixtures simply to protect his job. He referenced his first spell in charge, when he deliberately scheduled friendlies against top African sides and paid a professional price for mixed results.
“The most important thing is to play strategically. Friendlies must be strategic,” he added. “I am that coach who falls on his sword.
“We could have played anybody we wanted, but we played Egypt and we got more points. Now we are 48th.
“Imagine if we didn’t play Egypt and played somebody ranked even below us, and we didn’t even win. You’re gambling with the points.”
Bafana currently sit 10th in Africa. A further rise into the top six or seven would improve their seeding for next year’s AFCON draw in the PAMOJA region and reduce the likelihood of facing several of the continent’s strongest teams early.
Mosimane indicated that rankings also carry practical benefits for South African players seeking moves abroad.
With the next round of friendlies not expected until June, ahead of AFCON, the coach said the focus in the interim would remain on identifying and testing more players while continuing to prioritise quality opposition whenever matches are arranged.
The approach marks a clear continuation of the philosophy Mosimane has outlined since returning to the job: short-term comfort is secondary to long-term competitiveness and ranking points.
- AFCON 2027 qualifiers, Bafana Bafana 48th place, Bafana Bafana FIFA ranking, Bafana Bafana friendly matches, Egypt international friendly, Eritrea football match, FIFA world rankings, Guinea vs Bafana Bafana, MDNTV, mdntvlive, mdntvnews, PAMOJA AFCON draw, Pitso Mosimane, South Africa AFCON seeding, South Africa national football team
