Kaizer Chiefs' impressive unbeaten start to the Betway Premiership season has not yet translated into improved continental rankings, with the Soweto giants languishing at 102nd position in Africa despite their perfect domestic form.
The Glamour Boys' ranking highlights the gulf between their current domestic resurgence and their reputation on the African stage, where years of underperformance have dropped their global rating.
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Chiefs went into the FIFA international break lying second in the Betway Premiership standings, with four victories and one draw from their first five matches while maintaining a perfect defensive record with no goals conceded.
The Soweto giants are one of three teams yet to taste defeat in the league, triggering debates about whether they have what it takes to challenge for the title after years of disappointment.
However, Chiefs' rankings on the African continent have suffered significant blows over recent seasons, particularly after finishing the last two campaigns outside the top eight in domestic competition.
Amakhosi have also struggled to qualify for continental tournaments, making their return to CAF competition this season for the first time since the 2020/21 term, when they reached the CAF Champions League final.
Chiefs qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup after winning the Nedbank Cup and will represent South Africa in the continent's second-tier competition alongside Stellenbosch FC.
According to rankings website FootballDatabase, which updates club standings globally on a weekly basis, Chiefs still have a long way to climb the ladder among Africa's top teams.
The Glamour Boys are ranked 102nd in Africa by the website, only slightly improving from the triple-digit positions where they have been placed over recent campaigns.
By comparison, Stellenbosch FC, who reached the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals last season, are placed 41st in the continental rankings, while Sekhukhune United sit 56th in Africa.
Chiefs will begin their CAF Confederation Cup campaign away to Angolan side Kabuscorp on September 19, immediately after the international break.
Interestingly, Kabuscorp are placed 94th in the same rankings system - eight places above Chiefs despite the Angolan outfit's lower profile. Kabuscorp qualified for the competition after winning the Taça de Angola cup.
Prior to the Confederation Cup draw, Chiefs were officially ranked 50th in Africa by CAF at the beginning of August, before the start of the Betway Premiership, while Stellenbosch were rated 21st on the continent.
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The FootballDatabase rankings have Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, Pyramids, Esperance and FAR Rabat as the top five teams in Africa, while CAF's rankings last month featured RSB Berkane and Simba in their top five instead of Esperance and Pyramids.
