- “We Have the Right Team” — Queiroz Backs Ghana’s Final World Cup Squad
Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has expressed strong confidence in Ghana’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting his players are fully committed to fighting for the nation ahead of the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Speaking after announcing his squad for Ghana’s World Cup preparations, Queiroz said the selection process was one of the most detailed and demanding tasks of his coaching career, involving weeks of scouting, analysis and discussions with club coaches and technical staff.
The experienced Portuguese trainer said he is convinced the selected players have the quality, discipline and mentality to represent Ghana strongly on football’s biggest stage.
“Weeks, day and night, of observation, analysis and conversations went into this process,” Queiroz explained. “After all that work, I have complete trust in the 26 players selected.”
The coach also disclosed that Ghana will travel with an additional goalkeeper outside the official 26-man squad as a precautionary measure.
According to him, the extra goalkeeper will train with the team and remain ready in case of emergencies during the tournament.
Queiroz said the goalkeeper position is particularly sensitive in short competitions such as the World Cup, where replacing an unprepared player could create serious problems for the team.
“The goalkeeper department in a short tournament is very sensitive,” he said. “If something happens and you need a replacement who has not been training, it becomes almost impossible. This fourth goalkeeper gives us security and also helps develop a young talent for the future.”
The former Portugal and Iran manager said several national teams adopt similar arrangements during major tournaments, adding that difficult experiences in previous World Cups influenced his decision.
Queiroz also addressed the injury setback suffered by defender Alexander Djiku, who was ruled out after sustaining an injury during a cup final.
The Ghana coach admitted losing Djiku was painful but backed replacement defender Derrick Luckassen to step up and deliver for the Black Stars.
“We will miss Djiku because he is a fantastic professional,” Queiroz said. “But football moves on. Luckassen was ready and prepared, and I believe he will give everything for Ghana.”
The coach further revealed that preparations for Tuesday’s friendly against Wales had been disrupted by the late arrival of several players due to club commitments across Europe.
According to him, more than half of the squad joined camp only after May 25 because they were still involved in league and cup matches.
Some players, he added, were also given time to recover physically and mentally following long club seasons.
“Today is the first time we have the full team together,” he said. “That is modern football. Players are arriving the day before an important warm-up game, but we must adapt and manage them correctly.”
Despite the challenges, Queiroz emphasised that success at the World Cup will depend more on teamwork, discipline and unity than on individual stars.
He urged the players to build a collective mentality strong enough to compete with the best nations in the world.
“In football, talent alone is not enough,” he explained. “If you want to become champions, you do it together. When we defend, it should feel like we have 14 players on the pitch. When we attack, we attack together.”
The veteran tactician also called on Ghanaians to remain hopeful while staying realistic about the difficulty of the competition.
Queiroz admitted the World Cup would not be easy but insisted his team would approach every match with determination and a winning mentality.
“My message is one of hope,” he said. “We want to bring joy and happiness to Ghanaians, but we must also respect the level of the competition. We are facing the best teams in the world.”
In an emotional final message to supporters, Queiroz revealed how deeply moved he was after speaking individually with the players about representing the Black Stars.
“The players want to die for the shirt,” he declared. “They have enormous respect for Ghana and for the people. They are ready to fight for the nation and make Ghanaians proud.”
Ghana continue their World Cup build-up with an international friendly against Wales today before heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where expectations remain high.
