New Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has confirmed he will retain several key members of the existing technical team to ensure continuity as Ghana prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

During his unveiling at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, Queiroz announced that assistant coach Desmond Offei, goalkeepers’ trainer Fatawu Dauda, and high-performance coach John Paintsil will remain in their roles.

Acknowledging the legacy of Otto Addo

The 73-year-old Portuguese tactician, who has signed a four-month contract, took the opportunity to credit his predecessor, Otto Addo, for securing Ghana's qualification.

Addo became the first coach to lead Ghana to two World Cups and finished the 2026 qualifying campaign unbeaten at the top of Group I. 

"We must improve the legacy of the previous coach, Otto Addo," Queiroz stated.

"I thank him very much for qualifying Ghana for the World Cup; that is our goal."

Squad evaluation and selection strategy

Despite his praise for the foundation laid by Addo, Queiroz emphasised that he is conducting a fresh, "honest assessment" of the squad following recent friendly defeats to Austria and Germany.

He noted that his technical team is currently analysing past performance by studying recent matches to identify areas for improvement; evaluating player value to determine which players are fit and capable of executing his tactical philosophy; and prioritising merit, stressing that bringing the "right players" is essential for building a competitive team.

World Cup experience and fixtures

Queiroz arrives with extensive international experience, having managed teams including Real Madrid, Manchester United, Portugal, and Iran. This will be his fifth World Cup campaign as a manager.

Ghana is drawn in Group L and will compete on the following schedule:

- June 17: vs. Panama (Toronto)

- June 23: vs. England (Foxborough)

- June 27: vs. Croatia (Philadelphia)

The coach's immediate focus is to stabilise the team and finalise the roster before the June 1 submission deadline.