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Following the impressive performance of the senior national team, the Black Stars at the just-ended Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana has been named the number one national team in Africa, toppling Nigeria in the latest FIFA rankings. |
Furthermore, Ghana has moved up 29 places to take up the 14th spot in world rankings, representing the country’s all time best.
Cameroon, finalists at the Nations Cup are second in Africa, while Cote d’Ivoire takes the third spot.
Though Egypt retained the Africa Cup, they could only manage a fourth place on the FIFA ranking as far as the continent is concerned.
On the world ranking there were no changes at the top as Argentina (1), Brazil (2) and Italy (3) remain out in front with just a few points separating them.
Ghana (14) and Cameroon (17) are the only two African nations that have been able to break into the top 20.
Nigeria (45th) plummeted after failing to meet expectations at the Cup of Nations and have gone from being the top African side in the ranking to only the continent's sixth best.
The biggest movers in February are all inside the top 100, namely Australia (38th, up 10), Latvia (72nd, up 13), Bahrain (83rd, up 17), Thailand (92nd, up 15) and Guatemala (94th, up 11).
Ghana are not the only team to have achieved their best-ever position since the ranking was introduced in August 1993 as they are joined by Greece (10th, up 1), Moldova (49th, up 4), New Caledonia (115th, up 2) and the Turks and Caicos Islands (158th, up 21).
In the lower reaches of the ranking, Belize (176th, up 25) also deserves a mention after clambering off bottom place after their first victory in almost six years.
A total of 117 international 'A' matches have been played in the last few weeks, the most important of which besides the Africa Cup of Nations were CONCACAF and AFC qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup (17 matches).
The other 68 fixtures were friendlies.
Source: daily guide |
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