Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has called on the Black Stars to maintain unwavering concentration as they embark on their campaign to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, while simultaneously beginning the process of developing a squad capable of representing the country at the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The four time African champions will open their Group C qualification campaign with a demanding encounter against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday, September 24, before returning home to face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later.
Queiroz issued the call for complete concentration after announcing his 24 man squad for the opening two qualifying fixtures, stressing that Ghana must remain focused on the immediate task of securing qualification for the continental tournament while maintaining a longer term vision for the next World Cup.
“Hands on the present, eyes on the future. The priority is very clear: absolute focus on AFCON qualification, with our eyes set on the 2030 World Cup,” the Portuguese coach told Ghana Football Association media.
According to the veteran coach, the immediate objective requires the players to devote their full attention to the AFCON qualifying campaign, although the matches will also form part of his broader efforts to construct a competitive Ghanaian side for the future.
“We have an immediate objective that demands our full concentration, but we also have a greater destination ahead of us,” Queiroz said.
“This is the moment to start building the team for 2030, a team truly capable of honouring Ghana’s extraordinary World Cup legacy.”
The Black Stars enter the qualifying campaign with a clear objective of returning to Africa’s premier international football tournament after Ghana failed to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations staged in Morocco.
The absence represented a significant departure for a national team that had established a long presence at the continental competition, making the upcoming qualification campaign particularly important for Ghana.
However, Queiroz will have to manage a number of challenges as Ghana prepare for their opening fixtures.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mohammed Kudus has withdrawn from the squad and will therefore not be available for the opening qualifying matches.
Another player, Prince Adu Kwabena, is also expected to miss the fixtures after sustaining a head injury during the weekend.
The absences could require adjustments to Queiroz’s plans as he prepares his team for the difficult trip to Côte d’Ivoire before the Black Stars return to Accra for their first home qualifier against The Gambia.
The opening encounter in Bouaké is scheduled for September 24, with Ghana then welcoming The Gambia to the Accra Sports Stadium on September 27.
The two competitive fixtures will subsequently be followed by another significant international assignment when Ghana face Morocco in a friendly at the Grand Stade de Tanger on October 4.
The match against Morocco will conclude Ghana’s September and October international window and provide Queiroz with another opportunity to assess his players against high level opposition.
The three matches therefore give the coach a combination of competitive and non competitive fixtures through which he can evaluate his squad, identify areas requiring improvement and continue establishing his preferred approach.
For Ghana, however, the immediate priority remains qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars must navigate their Group C fixtures effectively if they are to secure a place at the continental tournament and avoid another absence after missing the 2025 edition.
Queiroz has nevertheless made it clear that his plans extend beyond the immediate qualifying campaign. The coach intends to use the current period to begin constructing a team that can eventually compete at the 2030 World Cup while maintaining the standards associated with Ghana’s history in the competition.
Ghana have a distinguished World Cup record, having reached the quarterfinal stage of the 2010 tournament in South Africa and established themselves as one of Africa’s most prominent footballing nations during several World Cup appearances.
The rebuilding process will therefore take place alongside the immediate responsibility of restoring Ghana’s presence at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The coach’s message places emphasis on managing both objectives without allowing the longer term ambition to distract the players from the competitive task immediately before them.
With Côte d’Ivoire awaiting them in Bouaké, followed by The Gambia in Accra, the Black Stars will have an early opportunity to establish the direction of their qualifying campaign.
Queiroz will subsequently have the Morocco friendly as another platform to examine his squad and continue shaping the team.
The Portuguese coach is consequently beginning his Ghana assignment with two interconnected objectives: guiding the Black Stars towards qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations while gradually developing the personnel, tactical structure and competitive identity that he believes can form the basis of Ghana’s 2030 World Cup ambitions.
For now, however, his message to the players is straightforward.
The future remains important, but the immediate task comes first.
Ghana must focus fully on the AFCON qualification campaign before turning greater attention towards the longer journey to 2030.
