Former Black Stars striker Augustine Ahinful has expressed his reservations regarding Ghana's recent FIFA rankings, stressing the importance of prioritizing the development of the national football team over fixation on rankings.

Ahinful's comments come at a time when Ghana has experienced a downward trend in FIFA rankings, currently positioned 14th in Africa and 68th globally.

According to Ahinful, this decline does not accurately reflect the true potential and form of the Black Stars.

He attributes Ghana's ranking slump to the team's performance in major competitions such as the Africa Cup of Nations and recent friendly matches under coach Otto Addo.

Despite these setbacks, Ahinful urges the technical staff and stakeholders to redirect their focus towards building a formidable and competitive squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic in June.

Speaking to Citi Sports, Ahinful emphasized the importance of concentrating on long-term team development rather than being overly concerned with short-term fluctuations in rankings.

"Obviously, the ranking will tell you Ghana is dropping because of the recent happenings," Ahinful explained.

"That is to say, the nation’s cup performance, as well as the recent friendly matches that we played. But to me, the ranking really, really may be an issue for us."

Ahinful's remarks underscore the need for a strategic approach to elevate Ghana's football stature, emphasizing the significance of nurturing talent and building a cohesive team capable of achieving long-term success on the international stage.