Bafana rise one place up on latest FIFA rankings

Bafana Bafana have risen one place in the latest FIFA world rankings while Spain have dropped out of the top ten for the first time since 2007.

Shakes Mashaba's side rose one place as the latest FIFA world rankings were released on Thursday, with Bafana Bafana now ranked as the 55th best side in the world.

Bafana are now ranked as the 15th best side in Africa, one place higher than Egypt.

European champion Spain has fallen out of the top 10 in FIFA's rankings for the first time since 2007.

World Cup winner Germany is still No. 1 ahead of Argentina, Colombia, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The only change in the top 10 is that Italy rises two places into 10th, while Spain drops one spot to 11th.

None of the elite teams played in the last month, but games played earlier in the four-year cycle of results lost ranking value.

Romania rises two places at No. 14 and could be seeded in July when European qualifying groups for the 2018 World Cup are drawn.

Costa Rica remains No. 13 to lead CONCACAF nations. The United States falls one to No. 32.

Algeria at No. 18 leads African nations. Iran is Asia's best at No. 42.According to fifa.com, seven friendlies have been played since the last edition of the rankings were released, five of them in the North, Central America and Caribbean zone.

The majority of changes are a direct result of a devaluation of past results.

The next world rankings will be published on April 9, 2015