By Ameenu Shardow
Ghanaââ¬â¢s main opponent in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers; Zambia remain in decline as they continue to slide down the FIFA rankings.
The Chipolopolo have slipped nine places down the latest FIFA rankings released in April where they now stand 45th in the world.
Herve Renardââ¬â¢s side however remain in Africaââ¬â¢s top 10 despite going downhill since winning their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012 where they defeated Ghana on their way to glory.
Zambiaââ¬â¢s camp continue to rage with problems following their unexpected 1-1 draw away to less fancied Lesotho.
That stutter handed Ghana a unique opportunity to close the gap at the top of Group D â⬓ an opportunity the Black Stars made very good use of with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Sudan last month.
Ghana now hold the advantage to advance in the qualifiers as they now lie just within a point of leaders Zambia with three games left and a crucial meeting with Zambia at home in the groupââ¬â¢s final game.
The new FIFA rankings only compounds Zambiaââ¬â¢s misery as it gives ample proof of their decline since winning the Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.