The Black Stars have fallen five places to 70th in the latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking, leaving Ghana 14th in Africa following a disastrous start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Ghana’s latest decline was confirmed in the rankings released on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, with the four-time African champions losing 25.73 points after a difficult run of results.

The drop represents one of the biggest point losses among teams in the global top 100 and adds to growing concerns about the direction of the national team following consecutive defeats in the AFCON qualifiers.

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

Consecutive Defeats Trigger Ghana’s Decline

Ghana’s slide in the global rankings follows a disastrous start to their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign under Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, who took charge after Otto Addo’s departure.

The Black Stars began their Group C 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.

However, the Elephants capitalised on their opportunities, with Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié scoring to secure all three points for the hosts.

Ghana’s problems deepened in their second match against The Gambia in Accra, where the Black Stars suffered a painful 4-2 defeat after surrendering a two-goal lead.

Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan put Ghana in front, raising hopes of a much-needed victory. But The Gambia responded through Muhammed Badamosi and Omar Colley before Ebrima Colley scored twice to complete a stunning comeback.

The defeat exposed Ghana’s defensive weaknesses and inability to manage a match after establishing a commanding position.

With two losses from two matches, the Black Stars sit bottom of Group C with zero points, while Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia lead the standings with six points each.

Queiroz Era Ends After Disappointing Run

The poor results also brought Queiroz’s second spell in charge of the Black Stars to an end.

The Ghana Football Association confirmed his departure by mutual agreement after the Portuguese coach reportedly recorded just one win in seven matches.

His exit leaves Ghana facing another period of uncertainty as the team attempts to rebuild confidence and revive its chances of qualifying for the 2027 AFCON in Morocco.

The coaching change comes at a critical moment, with the Black Stars needing an immediate improvement in results to prevent their qualifying campaign from slipping further out of reach.

Ghana’s AFCON Troubles Continue

The latest setback adds to a difficult period for Ghanaian football.

The Black Stars missed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after failing to win a single match in their qualifying campaign, ending a run of participation that had lasted two decades.

The failure was a major disappointment for a country that has won the continental title four times and traditionally expects its national team to compete among Africa’s strongest sides.

There had been renewed optimism following Ghana’s reported performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, where the team beat Panama 1-0, drew 0-0 with England and reached the Round of 32 before losing 1-0 to Colombia.

However, the latest AFCON qualifying results have undermined that optimism and raised fresh questions about the team's consistency.

Black Stars Slip to 14th in Africa

Ghana’s fall to 70th in the world leaves them 14th among African nations in the October rankings.

Morocco lead the continental standings in seventh place globally, followed by Senegal in 18th. Côte d’Ivoire occupy third place in Africa and 29th in the world, while Nigeria are fourth on the continent and 30th globally.

Ghana’s position highlights the growing challenge of remaining competitive as other African nations strengthen their standing on the international stage.

For the Black Stars, the decline represents more than a statistical setback. It underlines the urgent need to improve results, restore confidence and establish a clear direction for the national team.

November Fixtures Offer Chance to Recover

Ghana will have an opportunity to regain lost ground in November when the 2027 AFCON qualifiers resume with back-to-back matches against Somalia.

The fixtures offer the Black Stars a chance to collect valuable points, improve their position in Group C and begin rebuilding confidence following their disappointing September performances.

However, the pressure will be considerable. Having lost their opening two matches, Ghana cannot afford further costly mistakes if they are to keep their hopes of reaching Morocco 2027 alive.

Six points from the two matches would provide a significant boost, although the team must also improve its defensive organisation and ability to protect leads.

Anything less would leave Ghana facing an even tougher qualification battle and intensify concerns about the future of the national team.

A Crucial Period for Ghanaian Football

Ghana’s fall to 70th in the FIFA rankings, combined with Queiroz’s departure and another disappointing AFCON qualifying start, marks a worrying moment for the Black Stars.

The immediate task is to appoint the right leadership, restore stability within the squad and produce the results needed to revive the campaign.

With the November fixtures approaching, Ghana have little room for further setbacks. The response on the pitch will determine whether the Black Stars can rescue their qualification hopes or face another painful disappointment on the continental stage.

For a nation with Ghana’s footballing history, the objective is clear: halt the decline, rebuild confidence and restore the Black Stars to their rightful place among Africa’s leading football nations.