Ghana begins 2007 at 28th

Ghana has began 2007 at the 28th position as the first FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking of the new year is released.

After ending last year's ranking in the same position, Ghana managed to increase its point build up by a further 12 thus bagging 824 points.

Ghana, after a relative success in 2006 has rather seen a decline in rank due to her non-participation in any competitive qualifying campaign.

And this has affected the nation's position on the ranking table – dropping five places down the pecking order after the World Cup to the 28th place.

The decline can be explained as a result of the revision in the criteria adopted by FIFA to rank teams.

According to FIFA, country's who do not participate in any of the competitive major tournaments or qualifying series at the senior level drop valuable points.

The four-time African champions by virtue of being host of the 2008 African Cup of Nations are not taking part in the continent's qualifying campaign.

However on the African continent, Ghana is still placed 6th, incidentally that was the same position it held as at the last ranking schedule in December 2006.

Nigeria have started the year as Africa's top side. Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt and Guinea follow in that order.

After a limited number of international matches played so far in the New Year, no significant changes have occurred on the log.

But devaluation of older results in the ranking's calculation means some has affected some positions.

January's ranking took into account only 31 new matches - all of them friendlies and most involving Asian teams – that largely influenced the calculation for the month.

Sixteen were played at the end of 2006, the remainder since the turn of the year.

Nevertheless, while Brazil, Italy, Argentina and France continue to lead the way, Germany (up one) edge ahead of England into fifth place.