Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has defended his team selection after the Black Stars suffered a 4-2 defeat to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. The loss was Ghana's second consecutive defeat in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, throwing away a two-goal lead in the process. The Black Stars had been hoping to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat by Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké last Thursday. The Portuguese coach made changes during the second half, introducing players like Ibrahim and Augustine.
The defeat leaves Ghana without a point from their opening two Group C matches, making their qualification campaign an uphill task. Ghana must now regroup quickly, with their next qualifiers coming in October against Somalia in a double-header at the Accra Sports Stadium. The four-time African champions are seeking to return to the continental showpiece after missing the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. This will be Ghana's first attempt to qualify for the AFCON since their consecutive appearances at the tournament were ended.
Carlos Queiroz maintained that he had used his best available resources during the match against The Gambia. He stated that some players were not on fresh legs, forcing him to make decisions. Queiroz was pleased with the performances of substitutes Ibrahim and Augustine, who were introduced in the second half. Ibrahim, in particular, was said to have brought the team forward with his performance.
The coach was asked about other options available to him but insisted that all the best available resources played in the match. He expressed his willingness to consider other suggestions, should they be made. The loss to The Gambia has raised concerns about Ghana's chances of qualifying for the 2027 AFCON. The team's fans and critics have expressed their disappointment, with some calling for the dissolution of the Black Stars and the Ghana Football Association.
Ghana's next matches are against Somalia in October, and Carlos Queiroz has urged his team to respond positively. He emphasized the importance of a good result against Somalia to revive Ghana's qualification campaign. The coach acknowledged that the result against The Gambia was disappointing but expressed confidence in his team's abilities.
The 2027 AFCON qualifiers have been a challenging start for Ghana, with the team facing an uphill task to qualify. The team's performance has been criticized, with some suggesting that the coach should consider resigning. However, Carlos Queiroz has stated that his resignation would not solve Ghana's football problems.
The loss to The Gambia has also led to concerns about the state of Ghanaian football. Some critics have called for a complete overhaul of the team and the football association. However, Carlos Queiroz remains committed to his role and is focused on qualifying Ghana for the 2027 AFCON. The team's fans are eagerly awaiting a positive result against Somalia in October.
Key points
- Carlos Queiroz defends team selection after Ghana's 4-2 loss to The Gambia.
- Ghana faces an uphill task to qualify for the 2027 AFCON after two consecutive defeats.
- The team's next matches are against Somalia in October.
