2027 AFCONQ: Black Stars are facing challenges, not a crisis – Carlos Queiroz

Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has insisted that Ghana's national team is facing challenges, not a crisis, despite a string of poor results ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Gambia. The four-time African champions are chasing their first points in Group C after their opening match ended in a 2-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire.

Ghana have only managed one win from their last 11 matches, and Carlos Queiroz has only tasted victory in one of his first six games since taking charge prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking ahead of the crucial match at the Accra Sports Stadium, Queiroz dismissed claims that the Black Stars themselves are the problem. "Black Stars are facing a couple of challenges, a couple of problems, but Black Stars is not a problem," he stated.

The 73-year-old emphasized that difficult phases are an inherent part of football and expressed confidence that the team can overcome its current setbacks. "Yes, we are facing some challenges. That is the challenge we have in front of us, but Black Stars was never a problem, Black Stars is not a problem, and Black Stars will never be a problem in the future."

Ghana will host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 GMT. A win would provide the Black Stars with their first points of the qualifying campaign and offer a much-needed boost as they strive to secure a spot at the 2027 AFCON competition. The importance of this campaign is heightened following Ghana's failure to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, marking a break in their streak of more than two decades of successive appearances in Africa's premier football event.