A quarter-final finish at the World Cup has culminated in Ghana gaining nine places in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

The Black Stars are now placed 23 on the world ranking table from the 32 last held as the first ranking after the 2010 World Cup was released today by FIFA.

Ghana are now Africa's second best side behind Egypt after picking up some 74 more points to tally at 874 points. Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Algeria, Gabon and Cameroon trail Ghana in that order on the continental ranking table.

In the overall rankings, new world champions, Spain overtake Brazil at the top and are followed by the Netherlands with the South American side now in third and Germany coming fifth.

The positions on the table have been influenced largely by the results of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

A total of 154 international 'A' matches have been played since the previous edition of the ranking, including 86 friendlies and 64 FIFA World Cup encounters. Four qualifying matches for the next CAF Africa Cup of Nations were also contested.