Ghana’s Black Stars have suffered a further setback in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings, dropping five places to 70th globally following a disappointing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.
The four-time African champions, who previously occupied 65th position, lost 25.73 ranking points after suffering consecutive defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, further deepening concerns over the national team’s declining fortunes.
Ghana commenced their qualifying campaign on a disappointing note, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat against Côte d’Ivoire before suffering a 4-2 loss to The Gambia. The successive reversals have undermined the Black Stars’ standing and intensified scrutiny of their performances on the international stage.
The latest rankings, released on October 7, 2026, were determined by 338 men’s international fixtures played since the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 19. The matches encompassed UEFA and Concacaf Nations League encounters, alongside qualifying fixtures for the 2027 AFCON.
The latest decline compounds Ghana’s recent disappointments, particularly their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a setback that deprived the four-time continental champions of an opportunity to compete at the tournament.
In the aftermath of their disappointing qualifying results, Ghana mutually parted ways with head coach Carlos Queiroz, paving the way for a new technical direction as the team seeks to rediscover its competitive identity.
A scheduled international friendly against Morocco, Africa’s highest-ranked national team, was also cancelled, denying the Black Stars an opportunity to test their credentials against formidable opposition.
Ghana currently occupy 14th position on the African continent and remain behind several nations in the global standings.
Jamaica are ranked 69th, immediately above Ghana, while Cabo Verde occupy 68th position. Honduras sit 67th, Albania are 66th, and the United Arab Emirates complete the group in 65th place.
Morocco continue to spearhead Africa’s representation in the global rankings, maintaining an impressive seventh position worldwide. Senegal follow as the continent’s second-highest-ranked side at 18th, while Côte d’Ivoire occupy 29th place.
Nigeria, meanwhile, have experienced a four-place decline to 30th, reflecting the shifting fortunes of several prominent African national teams in the latest update.
At the summit of the global standings, Spain retain their position as the world’s highest-ranked national team, with Argentina occupying second place and France completing the top three.
The Black Stars will now turn their attention to their upcoming international assignments, with back-to-back matches against Somalia scheduled as part of their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
Somalia are currently ranked 200th in the world, presenting Ghana with an opportunity to secure crucial victories, restore confidence and improve their standing in subsequent rankings.
With expectations mounting, the forthcoming encounters could prove pivotal in determining the direction of Ghana’s qualifying campaign and offering an early indication of the team’s capacity to recover from their recent disappointments.