BY NADIA NTIAMOAH
Ghana’s difficult start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign has been compounded by another setback, with the Black Stars dropping five places to 70th in the latest FIFA World Ranking.
The four-time African champions have slipped from 65th after losing 25.73 ranking points, with their consecutive defeats in the opening AFCON qualifiers playing a significant role in the decline.
Ghana are now ranked 14th in Africa in the latest standings released on Wednesday, October 7, adding another worrying statistic to the team’s recent struggles on the international stage.
The latest rankings were calculated from 338 men’s international matches played since the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 19. Results from competitions including the UEFA and Concacaf Nations Leagues and the 2027 AFCON qualifiers were taken into consideration.
The ranking suffered particularly heavily from their disastrous opening to the AFCON qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars began with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké before returning home and suffering an even heavier setback against The Gambia.
Despite taking a 2-0 lead at the Accra Sports Stadium, Ghana collapsed in the second half as The Gambia scored four goals to secure a 4-2 victory.
The two defeats have left Ghana without a point from their opening two Group C matches and facing an uphill task in their bid to qualify for the 2027 continental tournament.
The poor run also contributed to the end of Carlos Queiroz’s tenure as Black Stars head coach. The Portuguese departed by mutual agreement after managing just one victory in seven matches.
Ghana’s latest ranking decline comes against the backdrop of a difficult period for the national team. The Black Stars also failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, increasing the pressure on the team to turn around its fortunes in the current qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars will have an opportunity to respond when the AFCON qualifiers resume in November, with back-to-back matches against Somalia presenting Ghana with an opportunity to collect points and improve their position in both Group C and the FIFA rankings.
Somalia are currently ranked 200th in the world, according to the latest standings, while Ghana sit 70th.
At the top of the African rankings, Morocco remain the continent’s highest-ranked side, occupying seventh position globally. Senegal follow in 18th place, while Côte d’Ivoire have climbed to 29th. Nigeria, meanwhile, have dropped four places to 30th.
