Queiroz urges Ghana to balance short-term goals with long-term vision as new cycle begins
Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has outlined his priorities for the Black Stars following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stressing that the immediate focus is on securing qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations while simultaneously laying the foundations for the 2030 World Cup.
After guiding the Black Stars to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup, the former Real Madrid gaffer is set to lead the team in the AFCON qualifiers, which kick off this month.
The Black Stars will commence their AFCON qualifying campaign with an away fixture against neighbours Ivory Coast on September 24 before hosting The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29.
The West African football giants will then travel to Morocco for a friendly against the Atlas Lions on October 4.
After naming his squad for the upcoming matches, the Portuguese tactician insists Ghana must balance its short-term objectives with a long-term vision as a new cycle begins for the national team.
“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.
“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,” he said.
With the AFCON 2027 qualifiers now providing the immediate test, Queiroz will be hoping to build on the momentum from the World Cup while developing a squad capable of competing consistently at the highest level.
The Portuguese coach’s long-term vision is to combine immediate results with the gradual development of a team that can carry Ghana’s ambitions into the 2030 World Cup cycle.
For now, however, the Black Stars’ full attention will be on navigating the AFCON qualifiers successfully, with Queiroz determined to use the new cycle to build a stronger and more competitive Ghana side.
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