Black Stars rise in FIFA Rankings after crucial win over Mali
Ghana’s Black Stars have moved one place up in the latest FIFA world rankings, rising from 76th to 75th following their September fixtures in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Otto Addo’s side earned a crucial point in a 1-1 draw against Chad before edging Mali 1-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium. The results not only consolidated Ghana’s position at the top of Group I but also boosted its global ranking.
Despite the upward movement internationally, Ghana’s continental standing remains unchanged, with the four-time African champions still ranked 14th in Africa.
Coach Addo, however, sees the progress as a step in the right direction, as his team prepares for decisive qualifiers later this year. “The elephant in the room is always consistency, but we have shown resilience, and I believe we can improve further,” he said after the Mali victory.
Ghana currently lead Group I with 19 points from eight matches, three points ahead of Madagascar, while Comoros sit third with 15 points. Mali, once considered Ghana’s strongest rival in the group, have slipped out of contention with 12 points.
The Black Stars will round off their 2025 fixtures in October with back-to-back games against the Central African Republic and Comoros. Both matches are expected to be crucial to their hopes of qualifying for a fifth World Cup appearance since their debut in Germany in 2006.
Globally, Spain reclaimed top spot in the FIFA rankings for the first time since 2014, displacing Argentina, who slipped to third after a defeat to Ecuador. France moved into second place, while England and Portugal completed the top five. Morocco remained Africa’s highest-ranked team at 11th.
The next FIFA rankings will be released in October, with the November update set to play a decisive role in determining seedings for the World Cup draw in Washington on December 5.
