Ghana's Black Stars head coach, Carlos Queiroz, has made an appeal to the team's supporters ahead of their crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Gambia. With several senior players unavailable due to injury, Queiroz emphasized the importance of rallying behind the players who are available for the match. The Black Stars are under pressure after opening their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire last Thursday.
The Gambia match is a must-win for Ghana as they chase their first points of the qualifying campaign. Queiroz believes a strong atmosphere at the Accra Sports Stadium could help his side bounce back from the disappointment in Bouaké and reignite their qualification hopes. The Portuguese coach has had to draft in replacements for influential players like Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, and Nathaniel Adjei, who are all unavailable for the match.
Queiroz's message to the fans is clear: they should focus on supporting the available players rather than dwelling on those who are missing. "It's better to stay home if you're coming to the stadium to complain about players that are not here instead of supporting those that are here," he said. The coach's comments highlight the challenges the team is facing, but also the importance of a positive response from the fans.
The Black Stars have been forced to cope with a number of absences, which has made the task of securing a win against The Gambia even more difficult. Despite these challenges, Queiroz remains optimistic about the team's chances. He believes that with the support of the fans, the Black Stars can overcome their difficulties and secure a positive result.
A win against The Gambia would be a significant boost to Ghana's qualification hopes. It would also provide a much-needed lift to the team after missing the 2025 finals in Morocco and ending a run of more than 20 years of consecutive appearances at the tournament. The match is scheduled to kick off at 16:00 GMT at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The 2027 AFCON qualifier against The Gambia is a crucial match for Ghana, and Queiroz is counting on the support of the fans to help drive the team to victory. The coach's appeal to the fans is a recognition of the important role they can play in helping the team secure a positive result.
The Black Stars will be looking to make a strong impression against The Gambia, with a view to building momentum in their qualification campaign. The team's performance will be closely watched, and a positive result could help to galvanize the team and the fans ahead of future matches.
Key points
- Carlos Queiroz has called on Ghana fans to support the available players for the 2027 AFCON qualifier against The Gambia.
- The Black Stars are under pressure after losing their opening Group C match to Côte d'Ivoire.
- A win against The Gambia would be a significant boost to Ghana's qualification hopes for the 2027 AFCON.
