
Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane hopes that a good result against Ivory Coast in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Saturday in Port Elizabeth will help his team to climb the ladder in the Fifa World Rankings.
Ivory Coast are the top ranked team in Africa and – according to a system used to calculate the rankings – South Africa will get more points if they beat a country that is ranked very high.
Bafana are currently ranked 49th in the world and 8th in Africa while Ivory Coast are 19th in the world.
"We need to focus on improving our rankings in the world because this will affect our football as it has an impact on the quality of opposition we will be able to attract in the future," says Mosimane.
"Winning against Ivory Coast will get us more points than winning against Lesotho, so we really have to do well on Saturday," adds Mosimane.
Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala, who is expected to feature prominently on Saturday in the midfield against the likes of Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure, says a higher ranking would earn the country more respect in the football world.
"As players, we are very happy when we get to play against good sides because this is also good for our careers and for football development in the country.
"If we want to get results that count in terms of getting better rankings and earning respect in the world, then we have to do well against countries like Ivory Coast," says Tshabalala.
South Africa achieved their highest ranking in August 1996 when Fifa rated them as the 16th best team in the world.
Ivory Coast are the top ranked team in Africa and – according to a system used to calculate the rankings – South Africa will get more points if they beat a country that is ranked very high.
Bafana are currently ranked 49th in the world and 8th in Africa while Ivory Coast are 19th in the world.
"We need to focus on improving our rankings in the world because this will affect our football as it has an impact on the quality of opposition we will be able to attract in the future," says Mosimane.
"Winning against Ivory Coast will get us more points than winning against Lesotho, so we really have to do well on Saturday," adds Mosimane.
Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala, who is expected to feature prominently on Saturday in the midfield against the likes of Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure, says a higher ranking would earn the country more respect in the football world.
"As players, we are very happy when we get to play against good sides because this is also good for our careers and for football development in the country.
"If we want to get results that count in terms of getting better rankings and earning respect in the world, then we have to do well against countries like Ivory Coast," says Tshabalala.
South Africa achieved their highest ranking in August 1996 when Fifa rated them as the 16th best team in the world.