Ghana’s Black Stars Drop to 73rd in FIFA Rankings Amid AFCON Qualifier Struggles"

Ghana's Black Stars have fallen three positions in the latest FIFA World Rankings published on Thursday, October 24, following underwhelming results in their recent qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Black Stars of Ghana have experienced a significant setback, as they now rank 73rd in the FIFA world rankings following a disappointing performance in their recent AFCON qualifiers against Sudan. The team faced two consecutive defeats against Sudan, losing 2-0 on home soil in Accra and again in Libya, which has heavily impacted their standing. The dip in performance has also seen Ghana surpassed by countries like Northern Ireland, North Macedonia, and Tunisia on the global stage, underscoring the depth of their recent struggles.

In the African continental rankings, the Black Stars have dropped to 14th place, slipping down by two spots. This decline reflects not only their recent AFCON qualifier performances but also a broader challenge to maintain their competitive edge within Africa.

Under the guidance of head coach Otto Addo, the senior national team has faced several challenging matchups. Their journey in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers was riddled with missteps, particularly in the matches against Sudan, which have now left the team scrambling to regain form and confidence. This is compounded by Ghana's struggles in the 2025 World Cup qualifiers, where their ranking dropped from 64th to 70th after a narrow 1-0 loss to Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium. Although they managed a 1-1 draw against Niger on matchday two in Morocco, they could not clinch a definitive victory until later in the qualifying rounds.

The global rankings reveal a reshaped hierarchy within Africa as well. Morocco stands at an impressive 13th place worldwide, making it the highest-ranked African nation, followed closely by Senegal at 20th, Egypt at 30th, and Algeria at 37th. Regionally, Morocco now occupies the top spot in the African standings, with Senegal close behind. The top five African teams are rounded out by Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire, and Tunisia.

Ghana’s current position signals a need for strategic changes and perhaps a re-evaluation of team dynamics to reclaim their former standing both in Africa and globally. The team and fans alike hope for a revival in upcoming matches as they aim to regain their reputation on the international stage.