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Ghana drops to 70th in FIFA Ranking after AFCON qualifier losses
•2 min read•2 sources
The Ghana Black Stars have fallen to 70th place in the latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking, a drop of five positions following a disappointing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. The decline comes after consecutive defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, which resulted in the loss of 25.73 ranking points. This latest slump leaves the four-time continental champions in 14th place among African nations, reflecting a deepening competitive crisis for the national team.
In response to the poor performances, the team’s leadership has initiated significant management changes, including the termination of head coach Carlos Queiroz’s contract. The recent run of form has been marked by inconsistency; while the team showed promise in 2026 World Cup fixtures with a win over Panama and a draw against England, they struggled to maintain momentum in subsequent matches. The inability to protect leads, particularly in the loss to The Gambia, has led to intense scrutiny of the team’s tactical execution and player motivation.
The current situation follows the team's failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON tournament, an event that heightened calls for systemic changes in recruitment and technical strategy. As part of a broader effort to stabilize the squad, a previously scheduled exhibition match against Morocco was canceled. The national team management is now focused on upcoming fixtures against Somalia, which are viewed as essential opportunities to regain points and restore public confidence.
Moving forward, analysts suggest that the Black Stars must address fundamental issues in team cohesion and tactical discipline to regain their standing in international football. The technical leadership is under pressure to implement a more robust framework that can sustain performance levels throughout high-stakes qualifying series. For now, the focus remains on the 2027 AFCON path as the team attempts to navigate its way out of this period of transition.
