2027 AFCONQ: Ghana must improve scoring, says Carlos Queiroz after Ivory Coast defeat

Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has criticized his team for their poor finishing after their 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying opener. The Black Stars fell to the hosts at the Stade de Bouaké, with Malick Yalcouyé scoring the opener and Franck Kessié capitalizing on a penalty to make it 2-0. Despite the defeat, Queiroz is confident that Ghana created enough chances to score and stresses the need for greater efficiency in front of goal.

"We played a more vertical style with more vertical movements to attack the defensive line of Côte d’Ivoire," said Queiroz. "We had a first approach in the game, and a second approach when Benjamin and Felix came on, and we could have scored. We had enough opportunities to score." Ghana has returned to Accra and will aim to secure their first points of the qualifying campaign with their Group C match against The Gambia on Tuesday.

The Black Stars are determined to regain their place at the Africa Cup of Nations after missing out on the previous edition, a setback that ended a streak of more than two decades of consecutive tournament appearances. Queiroz will now strive to steer Ghana to a positive result against The Gambia, with such a win needed to get their qualifying campaign back on track.