Black Stars End 2024 Ranked 77th in FIFA World Rankings Amidst Disappointment
The year 2024 has been a challenging one for Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, as they finish the year ranked 77th in the latest FIFA World Rankings.
Despite maintaining their 14th position on the African continent, the team has seen a notable decline following a disappointing qualification campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In November, Ghana slipped four places in the global rankings, down from 73rd in October. This drop comes after a tumultuous year where the Black Stars managed to secure only three victories from 15 matches across all competitions.
Alarmingly, only two of those wins were in official games, highlighting a struggle that has left fans and analysts concerned about the team’s future.
One of the most significant setbacks for Ghana this year was their failure to qualify for the AFCON for the first time in 20 years.
The team was unable to secure a single win during the qualifiers, which has cast a shadow over their performance and prospects. Earlier in the year, Ghana reached a high point in the FIFA rankings, achieving a position of 67th in February. However, since then, the team has faced a steady decline, culminating in their current ranking.
In the African context, the Black Stars sit behind powerhouse nations such as Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt, but still hold their ground ahead of teams like Zambia and Gabon. Nevertheless, they now find themselves looking up at the likes of Cape Verde and Burkina Faso.
Looking ahead, the Black Stars’ focus will shift to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, set to begin in March 2025. Ghana’s first matches in this new campaign will be against Chad and Madagascar, providing a crucial opportunity for the team to regroup and regain their standing in both the continental and global football arenas.