Ghana maintains place in latest FIFA rankings

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA - Ghana's Black Stars maintained her place in the top 20 of the November edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings released on Wednesday.

The Black Stars' 17th position remained unchanged despite their poor outing against Sudan in the last African Nations Cup qualifier last month. Ghana, according to the rankings, however, amassed 12 points more to up their total haul to 903.

The Black Stars ranked the second best in Africa behind Egypt who broke into the first ten globally to emerge in the first 20 last month. While Cote d'Voire joined Ghana and Egypt at the top 20, another African side, South Africa, host of the 2010 World Cup moved up two places to enter the top 50 for the first time since February 2006.

On the Africa continent, Cote d'Voire, Nigeria, Algeria and Gabon trail the Stars in that order.

Results of 34 new 'A' international matches were factored into the current edition of the world rankings, bringing the total number of matches taken into account this year to 673.

Almost half of the matches played this month (16 games) were qualifiers for the Gold Cup, meaning that it was mainly teams from the Caribbean who enjoyed big gains in points and places in the November edition of the rankings.