Black Queens’ FIFA Ranking Stagnation Raises Concerns Ahead of Women’s AFCON 2025
The Black Queens of Ghana remain static at the 66th position on the FIFA Women’s World Ranking, a spot they have held since August 2024. This marks five months of inactivity for the senior national women’s team under Coach Nora Hauptle, whose last competitive outing was a friendly against top-ranked Japan in July 2024.
The team’s lack of matches since completing the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers in April has hindered their progress and preparation for upcoming tournaments.
Despite six Type 1 international breaks available since their Olympic qualifiers, the Black Queens have only utilized one. This inactivity stems from a failure by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to organize games, including a last-minute cancellation of a scheduled friendly against Tunisia due to financial constraints. The missed opportunities have not only stalled the team’s momentum but also limited their chances of improving their global ranking.
The impact of this stagnation is evident in the Black Queens’ struggles to regain their past standing. The team has experienced five ranking drops this year, preventing them from breaking into the top 50—a milestone they last approached in June 2008, when ranked 42nd. Further declines in ranking could jeopardize Ghana’s seeding in future international tournaments, a concern as they gear up for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Scheduled for July 5–26, 2025, in Morocco, the AFCON will see Ghana compete in Group C against South Africa, Mali, and Tanzania. Fortunately, the Queens have been exempted from the tournament’s first round alongside other top-ranked teams like Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia. However, with little match preparation leading up to the competition, questions remain about their readiness to contend at the highest level. The GFA and Sports Ministry must act urgently to address these gaps and support the team in reclaiming their status on the global stage.
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