Cup successes attained some decades ago complimented with silver and bronze laurels have kept Ghana at the fifth spot in CAF ratings behind Cameroon, Nigeria, Egypt and Morocco. Ghana, four time African Champions begin the 2003 football season with 28.5 points in CAF's historical ranking released last week.
Defending African Champions, Cameroon hold onto their status as Africa's best with 55.5 points followed by Nigeria: 50.5 points, Egypt: 41 points and Morocco: 33.5 points in that order.
Ghana is followed by Tunisia: 27.5 points, Algeria: 26 points, South Africa: 23points, Congo: 22.5 points and La Cote d’Ivoire: 15.5 points.
The ranking takes into consideration two major soccer competitions namely, the African Nations Cup and the World Cup. The ratings based on points system, is determined by the successes at the African Cup of Nations spanning from 1957, 1959: Winner 2 points, Runner-up 1 point.
1961-1965: Winner 3 points, Runner up 2 points, Third 1 point. 1968 ?1990: Winner 4 points, Runner up 3 points, Third 2.5 points, Fourth 2points
1992-1994: Winner 4points, Runner up 3points, Third 2.5points, Fourth 2points, quarterfinals 1point.
1996 ? 2002: Winner 5points, Runner up 4points, Third 3points, Fourth 2.5, quarter finals 1point. With the World Cup, is based on Qualifications for the finals gives 5points. Each round crossed in the finals is rewarded by 2 points whilst the Confederations Cup awards 2 points per round crossed. Inconsistent showing in recent times at the Nations Cup appears to have contributed to Ghana's fifth placing. The last time Ghana won the African Nations Cup was in 1982 hosted by Libya. Ghana has never secured a World Cup qualification as the entire top four nations on the historical ranking table have qualified for the World Cup finals.
