Ghana leap 12 places in FIFA ranking for after AFCON heroics, Black Stars 25th in the world

Ghana have moved up 12 places in the latest FIFA world ranking to occupy the 25th position in the world and third in Africa thanks to their excellent showing at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Black Stars, according to the latest ranking released on Thursday for the month of February, improved more than any of the leading countries in Africa as  AFCON winners Ivory Coast moved up only eight places.

Ghana were fifth in Africa behind countries like Algeria, Tunisia and Cape Verde but the Black Stars swept them side to move to third thanks to their second place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations which ended on Sunday.

The Black Stars are now ranked 25th in the world and third on the continent after an impressive showcase at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana amassed 864 points after winning four matches, one defeat and one draw at the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

Newly-crowned champions Ivory Coast moved up eight places and are now the 20th best national team in the world and second on the continent.

Algeria, who were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the Nations Cup, maintained their position as the 18th best team in the world.

The AFC Asian Cup and CAF Africa Cup of Nations have accounted for movement aplenty on February’s FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, despite the top ten remaining unchanged.

Equatorial Guinea, hosts of the Nations Cup which ended on Sunday, soared into the top 50 for the first time.

The National Lighting leapt 69 places and are joint 49th with Congo after reaching the semi-finals, albeit in controversial style.

The Ivorians moved up eight places to 20th although Algeria remain Africa's best-placed team in 18th.

The Elephants are ranked second in Africa behind the Desert Foxes, the team they beat in the quarter-finals.

Nations Cup runners-up Ghana moved up 12 places to 25th.

The worst movers in the world this month were Libya, who dropped 35 places to 113th.

At the top, Germany maintained their number one ranking ahead of Argentina, Colombia, Belgium and the Netherlands.

There were no new entries into the world's top 10.

Africa's top ten:

1. Algeria

2. Ivory Coast

3. Ghana

4. Tunisia

5. Cape Verde

6. Senegal

7. Nigeria

8. Guinea

9. Cameroon

10. Congo DR

World's top ten:

1. Germany

2. Argentina

3. Colombia

4. Belgium

5. Netherlands

6. Brazil

7. Portugal

8. France

9. Uruguay

10. Spain