Black Queens In Free Fall; Ghana Drops To 5th In Africa

According to a report by TV3Gh, on Tuesday October 20, 2026, Ghana’s senior women’s national football team, the Black Queens, have suffered a setback in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings, dropping to fifth place in Africa and 65th position worldwide.

The decline represents a disappointing development for the Ghanaian side, which has been working to strengthen its position among the continent’s leading women’s football teams.

The latest rankings will likely renew discussions about the team’s recent performances, consistency and efforts to close the gap on Africa’s top-ranked national sides.

The Black Queens remain one of Ghana’s most recognisable national football teams and have a rich history in African women’s football.

However, the drop in the rankings highlights the competitive nature of the women’s game, where results in international fixtures and major tournaments can influence a country’s standing.

According to the latest rankings released by FIFA on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Ghana have fallen from 59th to 65th in the world, losing six places in the global standings.

The team’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), held in Morocco in July and August, was a major factor behind the setback.

The Black Queens were eliminated in the quarter-finals after losing to Malawi, missing out on a place in the semi-finals and an automatic qualification spot for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The team also featured against Mauritius in the qualifying phase for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, as Ghana continued its efforts to secure a place at the global sporting event.

The latest rankings have also seen the Black Queens lose their previous third-place position on the African continent, slipping to fifth.

South Africa and Morocco have moved ahead of Ghana in the continental standings, while Nigeria remains Africa’s highest-ranked women’s national team.

The changes underline the growing competition among African countries seeking to establish themselves as leading forces in women’s football.

Meanwhile, Malawi have emerged as one of the biggest success stories in the latest rankings after their impressive run to the WAFCON final.

The team climbed 49 places to 104th globally, reflecting the impact of its performances during the tournament. Cameroon, who won the continental competition, also moved up nine places to 62nd worldwide.

The latest decline presents the Black Queens with an opportunity to reassess their performance and work towards restoring Ghana’s standing in international women’s football.

Improved results in upcoming international matches and competitive tournaments will be important if the team hopes to climb the rankings and regain its position among Africa’s top sides.

The Black Queens are expected to return to action next month in the preliminary phase of the playoff tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, giving them another opportunity to demonstrate their quality and revive hopes of reaching the global competition.

For Ghanaian football supporters, the priority will be seeing the team respond positively to the setback and produce the results needed to return to the upper ranks of African and world football.

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