Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku has defended Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz, arguing that the Portuguese tactician should be judged mainly by results rather than the style of football produced by the team.
Okraku said Ghana’s long-standing pursuit of attractive football has not translated into success at the Africa Cup of Nations, stressing that the country has gone decades without winning the continental title.
He believes Queiroz deserves more time to establish his approach after taking charge of the Black Stars only a few months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to Okraku, the coach had to quickly identify players, assemble his squad and develop a strategy within a limited period before the tournament.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Queiroz guided Ghana to the knockout stage of the World Cup, marking the country’s first appearance in that phase since 2010. The Black Stars were eventually eliminated after a 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
Okraku also cited Ghana’s performance against Croatia as evidence that the team showed tactical strength under Queiroz, despite losing the match.
He explained that the Black Stars were able to put Croatia under significant pressure for periods of the game and restrict their opponents to their own half.
The GFA president further argued that Queiroz demonstrated tactical flexibility during the World Cup, pointing out that Ghana adopted different approaches in matches against England and Colombia.
He believes the coach could develop a more defined playing identity if given sufficient time to work with the team and a wider pool of players.
Queiroz has now been retained as Black Stars head coach and will begin preparations for Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Ghana’s first qualifiers will see the Black Stars travel to face Côte d’Ivoire before hosting The Gambia, with qualification considered a major priority after Ghana missed the previous AFCON tournament.
