Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has identified qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations as Ghana’s immediate priority while beginning a long-term project aimed at building a team capable of representing the country strongly at the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana are entering a new cycle following the 2026 World Cup, with Queiroz urging his players to approach the upcoming AFCON qualifiers with “absolute determination and humility.”
Speaking to the official Ghana Football Association website, the Portuguese coach stressed the need for the Black Stars to concentrate on the immediate challenge while keeping their long-term ambitions firmly in sight.
“Hands on the present, eyes on the future,” he said. “The priority is very clear: absolute focus on AFCON qualification, with our eyes set on the 2030 World Cup.
“We have an immediate objective that demands our full concentration, but we also have a greater destination ahead of us. This is the moment to start building the team for 2030, a team truly capable of honouring Ghana’s extraordinary World Cup legacy.”
Queiroz also called for a balance between ambition and humility, insisting that Ghana must first secure qualification before talking about challenging for the AFCON title.
“We must have ambition, but also humility,” he said. “We know our recent history and we cannot talk about winning AFCON when we have not yet qualified. We have to work, grow, compete and earn our destiny.”
The Portuguese tactician acknowledged the quality of Africa’s leading national teams, pointing to their long-term development and the number of players competing regularly at the highest level of European football, including the UEFA Champions League.
“That is the competitive reality we must recognise and the level we must pursue,” Queiroz added.
The coach believes Ghana’s experience at the 2026 World Cup will also play an important role in the team’s development. According to Queiroz, the intensive work carried out by his technical team during the tournament provided valuable insight into the players’ abilities, personalities and character.
“It was an experience that gave us a deep understanding of the players, their qualities and their character,” he said. “We have a fantastic group and a fantastic national-team culture. I am a very proud coach to be part of this group.”
Queiroz further explained that the latest squad was selected following detailed monitoring of players by the technical team. He noted that factors such as periods of inactivity and other limitations affecting some players were also considered during the selection process.
The coach maintained that, except in exceptional circumstances, players called up to the Black Stars should be competing regularly, physically prepared and ready to contribute to the national team.
For Queiroz, every selection, training session and competitive match must play a role in improving Ghana’s performance.
“If we want to compete with the best, it is not enough to work as hard as they do,” he said. “We have to work even harder and better. That is the best way to turn into reality the great dreams and ambitions we all have for the Ghana national team.”
