{"id":168676,"date":"2024-04-05T09:59:01","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T09:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2024\/04\/05\/fifa-rankings-are-not-true-reflection-of-national-team-form-augustine-arhinful\/"},"modified":"2024-04-05T09:59:01","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T09:59:01","slug":"fifa-rankings-are-not-true-reflection-of-national-team-form-augustine-arhinful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2024\/04\/05\/fifa-rankings-are-not-true-reflection-of-national-team-form-augustine-arhinful\/","title":{"rendered":"Fifa rankings are not true reflection of national team form \u2013 Augustine Arhinful \u2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Former Black Stars striker Augustine Arhinful has criticized the validity of the current FIFA rankings, arguing that they fail to accurately represent the true form of national teams.<\/strong><\/p>\n

His comments come in light of Ghana\u2019s persistent decline in the rankings over the past four updates, which he attributes to the team\u2019s performance in major tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations and recent friendlies under coach Otto Addo.<\/p>\n

Arhinful emphasized the importance of focusing on building a strong team rather than being fixated on FIFA rankings with Ghana occupying 14th<\/sup>\u00a0in Africa & 68th<\/sup>\u00a0in the World.<\/p>\n

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With Ghana\u2019s upcoming matches against Mali and the Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled for June, he urged the current technical team to prioritize the development of a formidable squad.<\/p>\n

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Obviously,\u00a0the\u00a0ranking\u00a0will\u00a0tell\u00a0you\u00a0Ghana\u00a0is\u00a0dropping\u00a0because\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0recent\u00a0happiness.<\/p>\n

That\u00a0is\u00a0to\u00a0say,\u00a0the\u00a0nation\u2019s\u00a0cup\u00a0performance,\u00a0as\u00a0well\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0recent\u00a0friendly\u00a0matches\u00a0that\u00a0we\u00a0played.<\/p>\n

But\u00a0to\u00a0me,\u00a0the\u00a0ranking\u00a0really,\u00a0really\u00a0may\u00a0be\u00a0an\u00a0issue\u00a0for\u00a0us.<\/p>\n

I\u00a0think\u00a0we\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0concentrate\u00a0on\u00a0how\u00a0we\u00a0build\u00a0the\u00a0team\u00a0going\u00a0forward,\u00a0which\u00a0is\u00a0most\u00a0important.<\/p>\n

Because\u00a0before\u00a0the\u00a0nation\u2019s\u00a0cup,\u00a0Ghana\u00a0was\u00a0ranked\u00a0ahead\u00a0of\u00a0some\u00a0nations,\u00a0but\u00a0then\u00a0we\u00a0all\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0Ivory\u00a0Coast\u00a0and\u00a0we\u00a0saw\u00a0what\u00a0those\u00a0nations\u00a0were\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0do.<\/p>\n

So\u00a0the\u00a0ranking,\u00a0yes,\u00a0sometimes\u00a0could\u00a0be\u00a0good.<\/p>\n

It\u00a0could\u00a0also\u00a0make\u00a0it\u00a0complacent,\u00a0because\u00a02006,\u00a0before\u00a0the\u00a0World\u00a0Cup,\u00a0I\u00a0think Czech Republic were\u00a0number\u00a0two\u00a0then.<\/p>\n

But we\u00a0went\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0World\u00a0Cup\u00a0and\u00a0we\u00a0beat\u00a0them,\u00a0and\u00a0they\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0qualify\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0group\u00a0stage.<\/p>\n

So\u00a0the\u00a0ranking,\u00a0yes,\u00a0it\u00a0could\u00a0be\u00a0good,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0focus\u00a0should\u00a0be\u00a0how\u00a0the\u00a0team\u00a0is\u00a0going\u00a0forward.<\/p>\n

For\u00a0me,\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0former\u00a0footballer,\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0know\u00a0why\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0play\u00a0against\u00a0a\u00a0team\u00a0and\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0afraid\u00a0to\u00a0go\u00a0and\u00a0perform\u00a0when\u00a0you\u00a0talk\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0fear\u00a0factor.<\/p>\n

Because\u00a0I\u00a0guess\u00a0the\u00a0ranking,\u00a0yes,\u00a0could\u00a0be\u00a0good.<\/p>\n

But\u00a0what\u00a0countries\u00a0that\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0so\u00a0high,\u00a0yet\u00a0have\u00a0gone\u00a0into\u00a0tournaments\u00a0and\u00a0have\u00a0failed?<\/p>\n

Belgium\u00a0is\u00a0one.<\/p>\n

We\u00a0can\u00a0talk\u00a0about\u00a0Belgium.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The latest #FIFARanking<\/a> is here! \ud83d\udcc8<\/p>\n

\u2014 FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) April 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Nigeria, the finalist in the recent TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, ascended to the 30th position globally, securing a spot among Africa\u2019s top three, trailing closely behind Senegal and Morocco.<\/p>\n

Leading the African standings, the Atlas Lions of Morocco hold the 13th rank worldwide, with Senegal following closely at 17th globally, securing second place on the continent.<\/p>\n

Cote d\u2019Ivoire, the reigning African champions, climbed to the 38th position globally, securing the fifth spot in Africa, just behind Egypt, who holds the 38th rank worldwide.<\/p>\n

Tunisia and Algeria, the renowned North African teams, maintained their positions at 41st and 43rd respectively in the global rankings. Mali made significant progress, advancing three places to 44th.<\/p>\n

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