The latest FIFA World Rankings are out ahead of the 2023 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup that will be staged in Durban from July 5-16, giving us a glimpse of where each nation sits in the global football order.
South Africa are the top-ranked team in the region, placed number 62 on the global list and 12th on the African continent. Bafana Bafana have ambitions to be higher than that and will hope a strong showing at the Africa Cup of Nations next year will get them there.
They will play in Group A in Durban alongside Namibia (112 in the world, 26 in Africa), who are third on the COSAFA list, Eswatini (146, 43) and Botswana (147, 44).
COSAFA champions Zambia are the second highest ranked side from the region at number 84 in the world and 16th on the continent.
Their Group B rivals are Malawi (126, 35), Comoros (130, 38) and Seychelles (196, 52).
Angola are the highest ranked side in Group C, though only just, as they sit at 114th in the world and 27th in Africa.
Just behind them are Lusophone rivals Mozambique (117, 28), followed by Lesotho (152, 46) and Mauritius (180, 48).
The FIFA World Rankings will also be important for the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers that is due to take place on July 12. It will be used to seed the teams.
Only the top team in each pool at the COSAFA Cup advances to the semifinals, along with the best-placed runner up.
FIFA RANKINGS OF COSAFA COUNTRIES
| COUNTRY | WORLD | AFRICA |
| South Africa | 62 | 12 |
| Zambia | 84 | 16 |
| Namibia | 112 | 26 |
| Angola | 114 | 27 |
| Mozambique | 117 | 28 |
| Malawi | 126 | 35 |
| Comoros | 130 | 38 |
| Eswatini | 146 | 43 |
| Botswana | 147 | 44 |
| Lesotho | 152 | 46 |
| Mauritius | 180 | 48 |
| Seychelles | 196 | 52 |
