This is the sort of qualifier that can tell you plenty about a team before the table does. Ghana are back in action against The Gambia on Tuesday in Accra, and Carlos Queiroz has made the message plain enough: the Black Stars need belief, support and, above all, a response after last week’s opening defeat in Bouake.
That 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast was not the end of anything, but it did sharpen the stakes. Ghana are still hunting their first points in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, while The Gambia arrive with a win already on the board. In a Group C encounter like this, the margin for another sluggish evening is slim. If Ghana want the campaign to feel like something more than an early scramble, this is the night to show it.
Queiroz is asking for trust, not excuses
Queiroz did not try to hide the reality. He spoke about “a couple of challenges” and “a couple of problems”, but his broader point was clear: Black Stars is not the problem. In his view, the defeat against Ivory Coast was a lesson, not a collapse. “We always win or learn,” he said, stressing that the squad had taken something from that match and focused their preparations accordingly.
That is the right tone for a coach under pressure. There is no value in pretending the opening setback never happened. Ghana did learn something in Bouake, and now the real question is whether they can turn that lesson into sharper work at the Accra Sports Stadium, where the kick-off is set for 4:00pm Ghana time.
Queiroz also delivered the more emotional part of the message: “The boys are ready with a lot of motivation. My message to the fans is one of confidence, trust, and your support.” He went further still, insisting that the Black Stars “was never a problem, Black Stars is not a problem and Black Stars will never be a problem in the future.” That is classic pre-match management — direct, protective and designed to pull everyone in the same direction.
The absences matter, but they do not change the task
Ghana will not be at full strength. Alexander Djiku and Ronald Donkor are ruled out, which is not ideal in a qualifier that already carries extra pressure because of the opening-day result. But Queiroz has made it clear that the available group is the one that matters now. “We have 22 players ready for tomorrow,” he said, adding that those are the most important players for the Black Stars.
That is the cleanest way to frame it. Injuries are part of the game, especially in an international window, and Ghana cannot afford to use them as a shield. They need a performance that feels purposeful from the first whistle, because another hesitant display would make the campaign look awkward very quickly.
The Gambia’s opening win means this is not a comfortable reset. It is a real test, and that is exactly why Queiroz’s appeal to the supporters matters. Ghana need noise, conviction and a stadium that understands the moment. A home qualifier against a rival team that has already started well is not the place for half-measures.
If Ghana want their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign to get moving, Tuesday in Accra has to be more than just another fixture. It has to be the night they stop talking about lessons and start showing them.
