The first FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking of the new year sees Ghana move one step up to 50th whiles maintaining its position as Africa's third best side.

The Black Queens have started the year with the same points, 1459, just as they finished the previous year.

The Women's ranking is released quarterly.

On the African table, the Black Queens are third behind leaders, Nigeria with Cameroon in second place.

The U.S have not relinquished top position in the world ranking for exactly five years as they still lead the way ahead of Germany and Japan.

Panama, Cyprus and Belize have resumed playing matches after a long break and hence re-entered the ranking.

But nine teams (Uzbekistan, Fiji, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Suriname, American Samoa and Bermuda) have been inactive for a lengthy period and are no longer ranked.