AFCON 2027Q: ‘Better to stay home if you’re coming to complain about absent players’ – Carlos Queiroz

Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has urged Ghanaian supporters to back the available players for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Gambia, rather than focusing on those who are absent from the squad. Ghana is aiming to recover from their 2-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in their opening Group C match. The loss has put more pressure on the Black Stars to perform well in front of their home crowd at the Accra Sports Stadium.

With several key players unable to play, Queiroz insists that fans who attend the game should be prepared to support the selected players. "It's better to stay home if you're coming to the stadium to complain about players that are not here instead of supporting those that are here," Queiroz stated. The Black Stars have had to cope with various absences before the qualifiers, including Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, and Nathaniel Adjei.

Queiroz has since added replacements to the squad as he prepares for his first competitive home game since returning for a second term as Ghana's coach. The Portuguese coach hopes that the support from the stands will assist his team in overcoming the defeat in Bouaké and restore their qualification campaign. For Ghana, the match against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium presents an opportunity to secure their first points in Group C and regain some confidence after a disappointing start to the tournament.

The Black Stars will face The Gambia at home as they strive to return to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing the 2025 edition.