Ghana begin their quest for qualification to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a familiar face at the helm. Carlos Queiroz is back as Black Stars head coach after guiding Ghana t
The report indicates that ghana begin their quest for qualification to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a familiar face at the helm.
It further notes that carlos Queiroz is back as Black Stars head coach after guiding Ghana to the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. His reappointment has generated mixed reactions, particularly among those who would prefer a more expansive and attacking approach. But when the bigger picture is considered, the decision to retain Queiroz could prove to be a masterstroke.
Before Queiroz took charge, Ghana were in the middle of a serious crisis.
The Black Stars had lost four consecutive matches, conceding 10 goals and scoring just twice. Looking further back, Ghana had lost 10 of their previous 25 games, winning only eight in that period. Most alarmingly, they had failed to qualify for the AFCON for the first time in 22 years.
There was clearly a problem that required immediate attention.
Queiroz walked into that situation with almost no time to prepare. In fact, he had just one friendly against Wales in Cardiff before the World Cup.
The draw against Wales produced a much-improved performance, but it did little to convince a sceptical fanbase that Ghana were ready for the challenge ahead. The Black Stars had been placed in a difficult World Cup group alongside England, Croatia and a dangerous Panama side.
Ghana collected four points from their three group matches and progressed to the knockout stage. One of the biggest highlights was an impressive goalless draw against eventual third-place finishers England, the only team in the tournament that England failed to score against.
For a Ghana side that entered the competition among the lowest-ranked teams, that was no small achievement.
Queiroz also delivered something the Black Stars had lacked for some time: defensive structure. Ghana kept consecutive clean sheets at a World Cup for the first time, providing clear evidence of the Portuguese coach’s conservative but effective philosophy.
And therein lies the biggest debate surrounding Queiroz.
The question of style has dominated discussions about the Black Stars. Many believe Ghana have enough attacking talent to play a more progressive brand of football and that a more offensive-minded coach could unlock the full potential of the squad.
In theory, that argument is difficult to dispute.
Even the Ghana Football Association’s national football philosophy document places considerable emphasis on an attacking and proactive style of play.
