Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has vowed to continue arranging matches against strong opponents as South Africa look to improve their position in the FIFA world rankings.

Mosimane believes that facing highly ranked teams is important for the national side's development and can help them collect valuable ranking points. Bafana Bafana recently climbed to 48th in the world rankings, with their performances against Guinea, Eritrea and Egypt contributing to their progress.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Mosimane acknowledged the work done during Hugo Broos' time in charge while explaining that the latest improvement was the result of carefully planned fixtures.

The South African national team defeated Guinea and Eritrea in their AFCON 2027 qualifying matches before securing a victory over Egypt in an international friendly. Egypt were ranked among Africa's strongest teams and were 25th in the world at the time of the match.

Mosimane explained that victories against highly ranked opponents generally offer greater opportunities to earn ranking points than wins against lower-ranked teams.

The coach also made it clear that he would not avoid difficult matches simply to protect his reputation or position. According to him, international friendlies must be organised strategically to benefit the team in the long run.

During his first spell as Bafana Bafana coach, Mosimane also arranged challenging fixtures against some of Africa's strongest national teams, despite the risks associated with facing such opposition.

He believes that playing against quality teams gives South Africa a better opportunity to measure their progress and prepare for major competitions.

Bafana Bafana currently occupy 10th position in Africa, and Mosimane wants the team to continue climbing the rankings. Reaching the continent's top six or seven could improve their seeding for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations draw, potentially helping them avoid some of the strongest teams in the early stages.

The coach also highlighted the importance of international rankings for South African footballers hoping to secure opportunities with clubs abroad.

With the next round of international friendlies expected in June ahead of AFCON 2027, Mosimane intends to use the available time to identify and assess more players for the national team.

His approach shows that he wants Bafana Bafana to focus on long-term progress rather than short-term comfort. By consistently testing his players against strong opposition, he hopes to build a more competitive team capable of challenging Africa's leading nations.

For South African supporters, the challenge will be to see whether Bafana Bafana can maintain their current momentum and continue climbing the FIFA rankings under Mosimane's leadership.

Source:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Me9cC6EPn/