Carlos Queiroz has made AFCON qualification the immediate target as he begins reshaping the Black Stars, while keeping his sights firmly fixed on a longer-term ambition of preparing Ghana for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The Ghana head coach says the new chapter must be approached with ambition, discipline and humility, with every match and training session serving as part of a wider process to build a national team capable of “honouring” Ghana’s proud World Cup history.
In an interview with the official website of the Ghana Football Association, Queiroz outlined his thinking behind the squad selected for the opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and explained what he expects from the team as a new cycle gets underway.
Asked what Ghana’s immediate priority is now that the World Cup is over, Queiroz said the focus must remain firmly on the task ahead.
“Hands on the present, eyes on the future. The priority is very clear: absolute focus on AFCON qualification, with our eyes set on the 2030 World Cup. We have an immediate objective that demands our full concentration, but we also have a greater destination ahead of us. This is the moment to start building the team for 2030, a team truly capable of honouring Ghana’s extraordinary World Cup legacy.”
While the Black Stars will be expected to compete strongly in the AFCON qualifiers, Queiroz is cautious about placing the team among the favourites for the tournament before qualification has even been secured.
“We must have ambition, but also humility. We know our recent history and we cannot talk about winning AFCON when we have not yet qualified. We have to work, grow, compete and earn our destiny.”
The Portuguese coach also acknowledged the high standard set by some of Africa’s leading national teams.
According to Queiroz, several of those sides have benefited from years of development, with many of their key players regularly featuring at the highest level of European football, including the UEFA Champions League.
“Everyone knows the level of competition we face. When we look at some of the national teams currently at the top of African football, we see established sides, built over time, with many of their best players competing regularly at the highest level in Europe, including the Champions League. That is the competitive reality we must recognise and the level we must pursue.”
The recently concluded World Cup has also provided Queiroz with valuable information as he begins the next phase of his work with the Black Stars.
The coach believes the tournament allowed his technical team to gain a better understanding of the players, not only in terms of their footballing qualities but also their personalities and character.
“Very important. We worked intensively on the entire process we went through during the World Cup. It was an experience that gave us a deep understanding of the players, their qualities and their character. We have a fantastic group and a fantastic national-team culture. I am a very proud coach to be part of this group.”
Queiroz revealed that player fitness and competitive readiness were among the key factors considered when putting together the latest squad.
The technical team monitored the players closely, while also taking into account the periods of inactivity and other limitations affecting some members of the wider player pool.
“Our technical staff carried out our usual in-depth monitoring of the players. The limitations or periods of inactivity affecting some players are also well known. There is always one general principle that we consider fundamental at this stage, except in exceptional circumstances: players should be in competitive action, physically prepared and fully ready to play for the national team.”
For Queiroz, however, squad selection is only one part of a much bigger process.
He wants the Black Stars to develop steadily through their training sessions, matches and competitive experiences, with the ultimate objective of closing the gap between Ghana and the continent’s leading sides.
“Absolutely. Every squad selection, every training session and every match must contribute to building a better team. We must be humble, understand where we are and recognise that, if we want to compete with the best, it is not enough to work as hard as they do. We have to work even harder and better. That is the best way to turn into reality the great dreams and ambitions we all have for the Ghana national team.”
Ghana’s three upcoming matches will therefore serve a dual purpose for Queiroz. While the AFCON qualifiers carry immediate competitive importance, the fixtures will also allow him to assess his options after the World Cup and continue laying the foundations for the next phase of the Black Stars’ development.
