With as many as 13 African nations ranked above Stuart Baxter's Bafana Bafana in the final FIFA rankings of 2018, here are the highest-ranked CAF teams.
Click through the gallery above to see the top African nations, according to the latest FIFA rankings.
Aliou Cisse's Senegal finished the calendar year as the highest-ranked African nation after securing qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations back in October already. The Lions of Teranga ended 2018 in 23rd position overall, three spots above Tunisia, who also easily qualified for next year's AFCON.
Herve Renard's Morocco booked their AFCON 2019 ticket with a 2-0 win over defending champions Cameroon during the recent international break, and as a consequence, the Atlas Lions remained Africa's third-highest ranked nation in 40th position.
Nigeria secured their spot at AFCON 219 with the 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana at FNB Stadium, seeing to Gernot Rohr's men occupy 44th spot in the latest FIFA rankings.
Congo DR are the only other CAF nation in the world's top 50, despite failing to win any of their past four competitive games and AFCON qualification hanging in the balance.
They need to beat Liberia in their final group stage game in order to take part in next year's tournament. Nevertheless, Congo DR sit in 49th position overall, two spots ahead of Ghana – another nation that has already qualified for AFCON 2019.
Cameroon follow in 55th position overall and seventh on the continent, but still need a point against Comoros to confirm their participation in Africa's elite tournament in 2019.
Egypt are Africa's only 2018 FIFA World Cup participant outside the top 50 in the latest FIFA rankings, and currently sit in 56th place after booking their AFCON ticket in October.
Burkina Faso, who are yet to qualify for AFCON 2019, appear in 61st spot, followed by Mali – another team that has already booked their AFCON spot – in 64th position.
Read: Final 2018 FIFA Rankings Revealed
Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana, who need to avoid defeat in their final group stage game in Libya in order to qualify for AFCON 2019, finished the year in 72nd position overall and 14th on the continent.
Do you think Bafana can climb up the FIFA rankings in 2019? Have your say in the comments section below.
