The best way to make it to the top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola ranking is to win competitive games on the continent. But Ghana has been denied that opportunity as the Black Stars drop two more places down the table to occupy the 45th position in this month’s ranking.
A total of 22 points were lost from accumulation in August leaving Ghana with 671 points to their credit.
Ghana, by virtue of being host of the 2008 African Cup of Nations are not taking part in the continent’s qualifying campaign and have thus been affected by the calculations.
The only way Ghana has managed to stay amongst the world top 50 footballing nations is through international friendly games which do not carry the same points like the various continental qualifiers.
There was little to cheer about as Ghana dropped a further six places on the log in last month’s FIFA World ranking.
However, a 2-0 win over Morocco this month in an international friendly did not calm the dip.
On the African continent, Ghana drops a step down to the 9th position. Nigeria has overtaken Cameroon at the number one spot while the Indomitable Lions move to second.
Ivory Coast still hold onto the third position with Guinea placing fourth.
The Black Stars who have remained largely inactive for a long spell are now perched at the 43rd position.
The sudden dip that has affected Ghana can be traced to the failure to build on the 2006 World Cup performance and the country’s inactivity in the qualifying campaign on the continent.
According to FIFA, country’s who do not participate in any of the competitive major tournaments or qualifying series at the senior level drop valuable points.
Also, the latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking has seen world champions, Italy regain their position at the top.
A 2-1 victory over Ukraine in the race to qualify for EURO 2008 sees FIFA World Cup holders Italy are now back at the top, climbing ahead of Argentina who are still second and Brazil dropping two places down to the third position.
There is also notable movement outside of the top 50.
Several European teams have enjoyed significant gains after victories in EURO 2008 qualifiers.