Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has urged Ghana to put the disappointment of missing the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) behind them as the team begins its 2027 qualification campaign against Côte d’Ivoire.
Ghana will face the Elephants in their Group C opener at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké today, with Queiroz insisting that the team is focused on securing a positive result.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, the Portuguese coach said Ghana’s failure to qualify for the previous tournament should not be treated as a lasting setback.
He described the situation as part of football and said the Black Stars must now concentrate on their qualification journey.
“We are here to play, to have a specific competition. All national teams at this moment have one specific competition called qualification,” Queiroz said.
“This game is just one step on our journey to that dream. Our goals are clear; there is no doubt about that.”
Queiroz, who guided Egypt to the 2021 AFCON final, said Ghana travelled to Bouaké with the intention of competing strongly rather than using the match as an opportunity for player development.
“We didn’t come here for education or development. We came here to deliver,” he said.
The Black Stars will also have to deal with the absence of some key players through injury, but Queiroz expressed confidence in those who made the trip.
He said the squad contains a mixture of experienced players and young talents eager to establish themselves with the national team.
According to him, Thursday’s encounter will be a demanding local derby, but Ghana must aim to be the more inspired side on the day.
“We came here to deliver, compete and play against a great team and try to play better than them in order to have the result,” he added.
