Ghana’s Black Stars have slumped to 70th in the latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking, falling to 14th in Africa following a disastrous start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The latest rankings, released on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, saw Ghana drop five places from 65th to 70th in the world after losing 25.73 points, marking one of the biggest point losses among teams in the global top 100.

The decline comes at a difficult time for the four-time African champions, whose hopes of making a strong start to the AFCON qualifiers have been severely dented by consecutive defeats in Group C.

The rankings were calculated using 338 international matches played since the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 19.

Back-to-Back Defeats Deepen Ghana’s Crisis

Ghana’s slide in the FIFA rankings follows two disappointing results in September under new head coach Carlos Queiroz, who took charge after Otto Addo’s departure.

The Black Stars began their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké. Ghana were without several key players, including Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew, as the Elephants secured all three points.

Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié scored for the hosts, leaving Ghana with an uphill task ahead of their next fixture.

However, the Black Stars suffered an even more damaging setback in their second match, losing 4-2 to The Gambia in Accra despite taking a commanding 2-0 lead.

Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan put Ghana in front, raising hopes of a first victory in the qualifiers. Those expectations quickly turned into frustration as The Gambia mounted a remarkable comeback.

Muhammed Badamosi and Omar Colley scored to restore parity before Ebrima Colley struck twice to complete a stunning turnaround and hand the visitors a memorable victory.

The defeat exposed Ghana’s defensive weaknesses and inability to protect a two-goal advantage, intensifying scrutiny of the team’s performances and preparations.

Black Stars Bottom of Group C

The two defeats have left Ghana rooted to the bottom of Group C with zero points from their opening matches.

Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia lead the group with six points each, putting the Black Stars under immediate pressure to revive their qualifying campaign.

With no points on the board, Ghana face an increasingly difficult path towards securing a place at the 2027 AFCON. The team must now find a way to restore confidence, improve their defensive organisation and rediscover the attacking efficiency that has often defined their best performances.

The latest FIFA ranking also highlights the consequences of Ghana’s poor results, with the five-place drop reflecting a damaging period for a national team accustomed to competing among Africa’s leading football nations.

Queiroz Faces Growing Pressure

The poor start has raised serious questions about the direction of the Black Stars under Carlos Queiroz.

Although the absence of several influential players affected Ghana in the defeat to Côte d’Ivoire, the collapse against The Gambia has added to concerns about the team’s mentality, tactical discipline and ability to manage matches under pressure.

The coaching situation is now under intense scrutiny, with supporters demanding answers after a campaign that has begun with two defeats and a significant decline in the global rankings.

Whether Queiroz can turn the situation around will depend on how quickly Ghana address their defensive shortcomings and produce results in their remaining qualifying fixtures.

A Wake-Up Call for Ghanaian Football

Ghana’s fall to 70th in the world and 14th in Africa represents another worrying moment for the Black Stars, a team with a rich continental history and four Africa Cup of Nations titles.

The latest setback is not just about rankings. It reflects the urgency of restoring consistency and competitiveness to a side expected to challenge Africa’s strongest teams.

With the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign already off to a disastrous start, Ghana have little room for further mistakes.

The Black Stars must respond on the pitch if they are to revive their qualification hopes and begin rebuilding confidence among their supporters.

For now, the message from the latest rankings is clear: Ghana’s decline has become impossible to ignore, and the pressure is mounting for a swift turnaround.