Okraku says Queiroz needed more time before Ghana’s 2026 World Cup

Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku believes Carlos Queiroz may have selected a different Black Stars squad if he had been given more time to assess the country’s players before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ghana reached the knockout stage for the first time since 2010 but were eliminated in the Round of 32 by Colombia, who won 1-0. Okraku said the coach’s limited preparation period could have influenced the players chosen for the tournament.

The Black Stars began with a 1-0 victory over Panama and then drew 0-0 with England. A 2-1 loss to Croatia in their final Group L fixture left Ghana third in the standings, although they still advanced to the knockout phase before their defeat by Colombia.

Okraku also questioned whether the team’s approach reflected the technical qualities he considers central to Ghanaian football. He identified dribbling, passing, ball control and individual creativity as important tools for opening up defensive teams, and felt the World Cup performances showed only part of what the players could offer.

However, the GFA president accepted that Queiroz had the authority to select players who matched his tactical ideas. He also suggested that the coach’s methods might have been viewed more favourably if Ghana had beaten Colombia and progressed further in the competition.

Queiroz has since remained in charge of the Black Stars after reaching an agreement with the GFA and Ghana’s Sports Ministry. His next assignment will be Ghana’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, beginning against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on 24 September. Ghana will then host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later, having missed qualification for the previous AFCON finals in Morocco.