Kaizer Chiefs climbed up in the latest African football club rankings, raising hope of featuring in the expanded 24-team African Football League while Orlando Pirates dropped in position.
There are still question marks on CAF's ranking system that ranked the top eight teams in three regional blocks that competed in the inaugural AFL.
READ: Johnson Comments On Alleged Racial Tension At Naturena
The AFL is set to be expanded to 24 teams next season and in the latest FootballDatabase rankings, updated following matches played on 26 November, the top five teams, Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, Wydad Casablanca, Esperance and TP Mazembe competed in the AFL tournament.
The Brazilians, who won their opening CAF Champions League group game against Nouadhibou 3-0 on Sunday, had to settle for second spot in the FootballDatabase Africa rankings, one point behind the number one-ranked Red Devils on 1686 points. Masandawana were previously tied with the Egyptian giants on points after they won the AFL.
In the previous rankings, the Buccaneers were in 23rd spot in Africa but have now dropped by two places to the 25th position with 1462 points following their goalless draw against Richards Bay on Saturday.
The Glamour Boys improved their standing by four places, as they jumped from 61st to 57th in Africa on 1395 points following their 1-0 win over Moroka Swallows.
Amakhosi need 70 points currently to be in the top 24 teams in Africa according to these rankings (they gained six points from their previous ranking).
However, the FootballDatabase rankings are not officially used by CAF and it remains to be seen how the 24 teams in the AFL will be weighted, as South African legendary coach Pitso Mosimane also raised his concerns and questions as to how a team like Simba (ranked 74th in Africa on FootballDatabase) were ahead of big clubs like Raja Casablanca (8th) and Zamalek (10th).
"How you get to be invited in there I don't know, because I tried to check. Is it points-based or Caf?" Mosimane asked in a digital press conference with the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA).
"I just think there are other clubs like Raja Casablanca. I'm just making an example. There are a lot of clubs that have more points, if it's points that allow you to be in the tournament.
"Raja is a big club, Zamalek is a big club. And if you put Simba above them it's another story," he said.
According to CAF, they took the highest-ranked teams in three African regional blocks, the North region, the Central-West Region and the South-East region, meaning one region could not provide more than three teams.
If the continental football running body divides the rankings according to regional blocks for the 24-team tournament, Pirates and Chiefs could stand a chance to be included against Southern and Eastern African clubs.
READ: 'We Will Miss Lorch But Won't Question Bucs'
Open a tab account, it's easy and start betting on local and international soccer now!
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
