Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has called for greater honesty, clear communication, and squad stability as Ghana prepare to host The Gambia in a crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Tuesday at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Ghana are under immediate pressure following a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in their Group C opener in Bouaké, leaving them bottom of the group. Meanwhile, The Gambia lead Group C after opening their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win over Somalia.

The Black Stars are seeking to return to the continental stage after missing the 2025 tournament in Morocco—a setback that ended a streak of consecutive AFCON appearances spanning more than two decades.

Demand for Clear Communication and Accountability

Navigating multiple high-profile player absences—including Alexander Djiku, Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, and Antoine Semenyo—Queiroz stressed that long-term national team progress depends on aligned goals across all levels of Ghanaian football.

“We need clarity. We need clarity in the communication with our players. We need honesty in the communication with our players,” Queiroz said. “We need commitment from the federation, from the players. Everybody must be committed to the same goals and the same dreams, and take responsibility at the right time.”

Ending the Cycle of Constant Squad Changes

The 73-year-old Portuguese coach argued that frequent changes to squad selections hinder the consistency and mutual understanding required to compete for major honors.

“You cannot build a winning team if you change every camp; you change seven, eight, nine players,” Queiroz stated. “And if we were able, with my experience working with national teams for years, the only way to be systematic, to take benefits of cumulative work, you have to work with the same players. You cannot change 10 players or nine players every time you call the national team.”

He cautioned against settling for occasional qualification, arguing that Ghana's history demands a higher standard.

“To win or qualify one team once in a while is not about having a winning team, a culture team, a champions team,” Queiroz emphasized, calling back to Ghana’s 1982 AFCON title and historic 2010 World Cup quarter-final run. “We need more heroes.”

Immediate Focus on The Gambia

While looking toward structural changes, Queiroz acknowledged that the immediate imperative is securing three points on Tuesday to kickstart Ghana's qualifying campaign.

“We have to win the game tomorrow,” Queiroz acknowledged. “But at the same time, we have to put the seeds of the future. We need to have the core of the team prepared and ready to come.”