Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has outlined his team's strategy for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against The Gambia. The Black Stars will host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29, seeking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat by Côte d'Ivoire in their opening Group C fixture. Queiroz emphasized the importance of controlling possession to secure their first points of the qualifying campaign.
Queiroz joked about striking a deal with his Gambian counterpart to allow Ghana to have the ball throughout the match. "I'm going to make an agreement with the Gambia coach. Give me the ball for 90 minutes. I promise, we attack. 90 minutes," he said. The 73-year-old Portuguese coach stressed that possession must be accompanied by a positive and aggressive approach in the final third to create scoring opportunities.
The former Iran and Colombia coach believes that controlling possession will be key to Ghana's chances of securing a win. "We know that if you want to win the game, we have to fight to have the ball with us. We have to recover the ball. We have to keep the ball with us," he added. Queiroz remains confident that a better performance, coupled with greater efficiency in front of goal, can give Ghana a strong chance of victory.
Queiroz emphasized the importance of a positive and aggressive approach in the final third. "After we keep the ball, we have to play with a positive mind and express our skills to go forward and try to score," he said. The Black Stars are under pressure to respond after their defeat in Bouaké, which left them without a point from their opening Group C match.
Ghana are also seeking to return to the AFCON after missing the 2025 tournament in Morocco, ending their run of more than two decades of consecutive appearances at the competition. Queiroz will now hope his side can turn their attacking intentions into goals when they face The Gambia in Accra. The team's performance in the upcoming match will be crucial in determining their chances of advancing in the qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars' defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in their opening match has increased the pressure on the team to secure a win against The Gambia. Queiroz's approach will be put to the test as he seeks to lead Ghana to a victory and get their qualifying campaign back on track. The team's fans will be eagerly anticipating the match, hoping for a positive result.
The match between Ghana and The Gambia is set to take place on September 29 at the Accra Sports Stadium. A win for Ghana would be a significant step towards advancing in the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign. The team's performance will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as they seek to make a statement in the competition.
Key points
- Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz emphasizes the importance of controlling possession to secure a win against The Gambia.
- Queiroz stresses the need for a positive and aggressive approach in the final third to create scoring opportunities.
- The Black Stars are under pressure to respond after their 2-0 defeat by Côte d'Ivoire in their opening Group C fixture.
