The Bafana Bafana ranking impasse, which has Fifa looking on anxiously over the role the host nation will make in the forthcoming Confederation Cup and World Cup competitions, remains becalmed in the latest world tabulations.

South Africa are in an unaltered 69th position in Fifa's world rankings and a modest 13th in the African rankings — a far cry from the all-time high of 17th in the world and number one in Africa reached briefly after annexing their African Nations Cup in 1996.

Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke has warned this week during his stay in South Africa of the importance of the host nation reaching at least the semifinal stage of the eight-team Confederations Cup and the last 16 of the 32-nation World Cup in order not to risk a deflating loss of enthusiasm in the tournaments locally.

And Bafana's current ranking — although a marginal improvement from the 13-year low of 79th in the world which South Africa occupied 15 months ago — is not designed to ease Fifa's misgivings.

The untimely resignation of world-respected Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has only added to these misgivings, with a daunting task now facing incoming Joel Santana as the coaching replacement in the firing line.

Ghana meanwhile hold onto their rating as the top African nation while positioned 14th in the world — two places higher than African rivals Cameroon.

Argentina continue to shade Brazil at the top of the world rankings, with World Cup holders Italy in third place, Spain fourth, Germany fifth and The Czech Republic, France, Greece, Portugal and Holland completing the top 10 in that order.

England, despite failing to qualify for next month's European Nations Cup tournament in Switzerland and Austria, somewhat surprisingly cling to 11th position.

Sapa