Ghana Football Association Communications Director Henry Asante Twum believes the Black Stars’ international friendly against Wales will provide valuable insight into the type of challenge they can expect when they face England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Although Wales failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing to Montenegro in the play-offs, Asante Twum believes their style of play bears similarities to that of England and could offer Ghana a useful reference point ahead of their group-stage clash with the Three Lions.
Speaking exclusively to Citi Sports, Asante Twum said the match will serve as an important test for coach Carlos Queiroz and his squad as they continue preparations for the tournament, which begins in less than two weeks.
“They’re playing a team that did not qualify for the World Cup, but obviously just to have a fair sense of what England will come up with,” he said.
“At the time we announced the Wales friendly, they were in the playoffs. Unfortunately, they didn’t go. They lost to Montenegro, and Montenegro went on to qualify at the expense of Italy. They also give us an idea of what to expect from England because Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland have similarities. They give us a fair idea of what to expect from the Lions.”
The communications director also stressed that the encounter presents an opportunity for Queiroz to assess his players in different tactical roles and systems before finalising his plans for the World Cup.
According to Asante Twum, versatility was one of the key factors behind the selection of the current squad, with the coaching staff keen to work with players capable of operating in multiple positions and adapting to different game situations.
“It also gives him the opportunity to look at players in different positions,” he explained.
“One of the things that went into coming up with this squad was seeing players in multifaceted positions. Players who can function in different areas, different patterns of play in attack, defence and midfield. Players who can play in different roles, different setups, different team structures and different team chemistry.”
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He further revealed that Queiroz has spent the past week holding individual meetings with every player in camp, using the sessions to communicate his expectations and philosophy ahead of the World Cup.
“Within the last five or six days, he’s had one-on-one sessions with every player who is in camp. When you arrive in camp, after training and dinner, you have a session with the head coach for him to explain his methodology and philosophy.”
“He also makes the players understand what he expects from them on the pitch and off the pitch, player discipline, conditioning, team focus, individual focus, and all of that is properly spelled out to these players in a one-on-one session.”
With Ghana’s World Cup campaign now just days away, Asante Twum believes the friendly against Wales will provide the Black Stars with the kind of competitive examination they need before heading into the tournament.
“We expect Wales to give us a very good test,” he added.
