Black Stars Head Coach Carlos Queiroz says Ghana will keep sailing strong despite a few holes in the boat, as he moves to fix late setbacks in his squad ahead of the crucial 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Cote d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
The team assembled in Accra on Monday to begin preparations for the double header as well as the international friendly against Morocco.
Carlos Queiroz admitted his 24-man squad has been hit with late injuries and fitness concerns just 72 hours to Ghana’s 2027 AFCON qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire, but says replacements are already secured to fix the holes.
Speaking at a press conference at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, Queiroz thanked the leadership of the GFA and Ghanaians for their support during the World Cup and their confidence in him.
Read on for the transcript:
On coming back to Ghana
It feels good to be back here. I would like to thank the leadership of the GFA and the people of Ghana for the confidence expressed in me. During the World Cup they suffered with us, they enjoyed the World Cup with us. So let me say from my heart, my deep gratitude for the understanding, support, and confidence that they put on the team and especially myself and my staff.
On New Chapter & Squad Selection
The coach described the qualifiers as a new tournament and a new journey, explaining that his immediate focus is qualification while building for the future.
”Our journey now is to have our hands in the present, we have to qualify for African competitions, but at the same time we have our eyes in the future. Step by step we have to plant the seeds to build a strong, capable team that will be able to qualify and compete in the World Cup.”
On the 24-man squad announced on Friday, Queiroz said the selection was based on deep research on players across the world, their current form and match fitness.
”Some of them are playing very well. Some of them don’t have minutes in their legs, they’re not match fit as we expect. At the time I published the list, we had 10 potential players out of my options.”
On qualifying campaign & fixing issues in last 48 hours
Queiroz admitted the AFCON qualifying campaign is different from the World Cup, with no time for preparation.
”We arrive Monday, players arrive today and Thursday we have a game. There is no room for great decisions, no room for development, only room to deliver.”
The coach revealed the team had taken in some water in the last 48 hours but is fixing the problems:
”This wonderful team, we have a couple of goals, we are taking in some water, we have a couple of holes in our boat, but we keep sailing. We keep sailing strong and our job in the last 48 hours is to fix those issues.”
He confirmed new replacements:
”I am pleased to announce that in the front line we have new replacements confirmed. Thomas Asante will join the team. In the defensive line, left back Anang is coming, Mohammed Fuseini is also confirmed. Adjetey is coming and Seidu has also joined after starting to play. We are still trying to confirm two other players — another centre-back and another centre-forward.”
On importance of opening two matches
“There is always a new challenge. For me the most important trophy at this moment is the next game, to win the next game. You cannot be on the top roof of Accra without climbing the steps of the building and the steps for us now are to win the next game.”
On withdrawal of Mohammed Kudus
On why Kudus was initially included and later withdrawn, Queiroz explained:
”We are not coaches of the clubs, we can’t control their decisions. It looked like Kudus was moving in the right direction. But later, after playing 70-something minutes, the news was not progressing as expected. In my final conversation with Kudus, we realised the best decision was to protect his recovery process. He can take the risk of a step-back, and nobody wants that. We hope with more training and games in the next round, Kudus will be ready.”
On building a national team
Queiroz stressed that Ghana cannot build its future only on the pitch.
“Ghana has all the conditions to win trophies. But you cannot put your resources in one basket — players or coach. You have to put resources in player development, youth education, facilities, infrastructure, logistics, medical capabilities. If you fail in those compartments, you cannot succeed.”
He lamented the lack of availability and consistency in national team selections, noting that on one occasion he had 12 players out.
“You can’t change 7, 8, 10 players every time the national team plays and expect to succeed. We have to find a way to build the team around a core of players. Availability, commitment and accountability are key words for success.”
On Philosophy
“My style of football is the winning style. I never saw coaches lose their job because of style. They lose their job because they don’t win. Winning makes the style. Winning makes the fashion. That’s the law of the game.”
The Black Stars face Cote d’Ivoire in Bouake on Thursday, September 24, before hosting The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, September 29.
