Ghana have ended 2008 with a good placing in the FIFA women’s world ranking, maintaining a top 50 finish.

The last of the quarterly ranking was released on Friday.

After losing 12 points and dropping a place down, the Black Queens occupy the 43rd spot as compared to September when they occupied the 42nd position.

However, there is still some way to go to match their best-ever ranking of 42nd.

Ghana would enter the New Year with a point build up of 1523.

The women’s team finished second best on the continental ranking table to Nigeria.

According to Fifa, the Black Queens who have drifted out of the top 50 on three occasions since the women’s ranking started in 2003 have an average position of 48.

Ghana and Nigeria are the only sides from the continent to hold down places in the top 50.

The United States top the table followed by Germany and Brazil in that order.

Fifa says a total of 150 teams are included in the ranking, but barely 100 of those were active.

The women’s ranking is released four times in a year with the next release expected in March 2009.