Ghana Black Stars drop five places to 70th in latest FIFA rankings

Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, has fallen five places to 70th in the latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking released on October 7, 2026. This decline follows a difficult start to the team's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, where poor results led to a significant loss of ranking points. Previously ranked 65th, the team saw a reduction of 25.73 points, a slide that has also seen them drop to 14th place within the African continent.

The drop in ranking is primarily attributed to two recent defeats in the AFCON qualifiers. The Black Stars suffered a 2-0 loss against C$te d’Ivoire and a subsequent 4-2 defeat at the hands of The Gambia. These results were part of the 338 international matches considered by FIFA in this ranking cycle, which covers the period following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The loss of points reflects the team's ongoing struggle to maintain consistency against regional rivals during the current international window.

In the wake of these poor performances, the national team has undergone significant changes in leadership. Head coach Carlos Queiroz has mutually parted ways with the team as the Ghana Football Association seeks a new direction to stabilize the side's qualifying campaign. Furthermore, a scheduled friendly match against Morocco, who currently hold the position of the highest-ranked African nation at 7th in the world, has been cancelled amid the technical restructuring.

Looking ahead, the Black Stars will attempt to regain their footing in the upcoming qualifiers under new management. Their next fixture is against Somalia, a team currently ranked 200th in the world. This match is viewed as a critical opportunity for the team to secure a win and begin the process of climbing back up the global standings while securing their path to the 2027 AFCON tournament.