The Black Stars will enter the New Year as the World’s 25th best side after improving one place up in the current edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking released today.

It’s been an eventful year for Ghana after starting the year at the 43rd position.

Ghana, four-time African Champions, went on to place an all-time record high of 14th in February as Fifa credited the Black Stars as the Best Mover in February 2008.

In the months of April and May, Ghana was placed at the 14th position and for eight month’s running - starting from February to September - the Black Stars remained a top 20 side.

The December ranking ends the year’s point accumulation exercise put out every month by Fifa for matches played by the various senior national sides.

Ghana now sits at the 25th position on the world ranking table with an accumulated build up of 815 points, thus 10 points more after the last ranking.

The Black Stars also hold their place among the top five sides in Africa. Ghana is placed fourth on the continental table.

Cameroon remains Africa's top-rated national side followed by Egypt and Nigeria in that order.

European Champions, Spain finished the year as leaders followed by Germany and Holland. Spain goes on to win the 'Team of the Year 2008' plus the 'Best Mover 2008'.

According to Fifa, by mid-December 2008, 1,040 international matches had been played. Taking into account the matches still to be played, the annual total will come within a whisker of the all-time record of 1,065 matches (in 2004).