This didn’t start against Gambia – Carlos Queiroz warns Ghana must address AFCON qualifying crisis

Carlos Queiroz has warned that Ghana’s latest Africa Cup of Nations qualifying defeat is part of a much deeper problem, insisting the Black Stars’ struggles cannot be blamed solely on their loss to Gambia.

Ghana suffered a second consecutive defeat in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers on Tuesday, collapsing from a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The result extended the Black Stars’ winless run in African qualifiers to eight matches, a sequence that contributed to their failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON.

Queiroz believes the latest setback should prompt a broader assessment of the national team rather than a narrow focus on Tuesday’s defeat.

“This is not only two losses for the Ghana national team. This is the game number eight in a row that Ghana doesn’t win one match in the qualifiers, African qualifiers. It is the game number eight,” Queiroz said.

“So this issue doesn’t start today, doesn’t start yesterday. We have to start to think about that.”

The Portuguese coach said Ghana must examine several areas if the team is to reverse its fortunes.

“It’s not only something that happened here today, but there are a lot of things. There are a lot of things that the Ghana national team have to review,” he added.

The Black Stars now face an uphill battle in Group C, having lost both opening matches.

They will return to qualifying action against Somalia in November.