- Queiroz Backs Black Stars to Solve Problems Ahead of Gambia Qualifier
Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz says Ghana is ready to confront its difficulties and deliver an improved performance against The Gambia as the national team seeks its first victory in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Ghana will host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday after opening its Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké.
The result has placed early pressure on Queiroz’s side, which must respond at home to avoid losing further ground in a group that also includes Somalia.
Queiroz acknowledged that the team was dealing with “a couple of challenges” but rejected suggestions that the Black Stars had become a problem.
“Black Stars are facing a couple of challenges, a couple of problems, but Black Stars is not a problem,” the Portuguese coach said ahead of the match.
“Like everything in life, in the hospitals, in the workshops, in the army, in industry, in business, we face challenges, we face problems, and our duty as professionals is to solve the problems.”
Ghana’s preparations have been affected by the absence of several established players, with injuries forcing changes to the squad before the opening qualifiers.
The team must also correct the attacking shortcomings evident against Côte d’Ivoire, when Ghana struggled to convert possession and promising movements into clear scoring opportunities.
Queiroz said the technical team had analysed the defeat and devoted greater attention to the final phase of Ghana’s attacking play.
“We always win or learn, and we learnt something in that game,” he said.
The coach said training had focused on “finishing definition moments” to make Ghana “more accurate, more efficient in our attacking movements”.
The Gambia encounter will provide an early test of whether those lessons have translated into a more decisive performance.
Ghana cannot afford to dominate possession without producing goals, particularly against a Gambian side likely to defend compactly and attempt to exploit counterattacking opportunities.
The Black Stars will require greater movement around the penalty area, quicker ball circulation and more composed finishing than they produced in Bouaké.
Queiroz, who has described his football philosophy as one built around fighting for possession and attacking to score, will also be expected to balance urgency with defensive discipline.
The coach said 22 players were fit and available for the match, with Ronald Donkor the only player remaining doubtful ahead of the final training session.
Queiroz insisted that the current difficulties should not be interpreted as a crisis of identity or a judgement on the future of the national team.
“Yes, we are facing some challenges. That’s the challenge that we have in front of us for Black Stars,” he said.
“That’s why we are Black Stars, but Black Stars was never a problem. Black Stars is not a problem, and Black Stars will never be a problem in the future.”
His defence of the team reflects an attempt to preserve confidence after a disappointing start, but the result against The Gambia will carry greater weight than reassurances offered before kick-off.
Ghana missed the previous Africa Cup of Nations and is seeking an immediate return to the continental competition. Dropped points at home would intensify scrutiny of both the team and the new qualifying project under Queiroz.
The coach appealed to supporters and the media to remain behind the players as they attempt to recover.
“My message to the fans is a message of confidence,” Queiroz said, urging Ghanaians to give the team their trust and support.
For the Black Stars, Tuesday’s match is therefore more than an opportunity to collect three points. It is a chance to demonstrate that the lessons from Bouaké have been absorbed and that the problems identified by the technical team can be solved on the pitch.
