Ghana’s head coach, Carlos Queiroz, has struck a combative tone on the eve of the Black Stars’ 2026 FIFA World Cup opening, stating the team is battle-ready for their critical Group L meeting against Panama, despite a rocky build-up dominated by midfielder Thomas Partey’s high-profile visa denial.
The seasoned Portuguese strategist made a determined statement during yesterday’s pre-match press conference at BMO Field in Toronto, emphasising that his team has done everything possible to prepare.
Queiroz denied that the team’s lack of friendly games had affected their preparedness, saying, “”We did what was planned. We did everything that was in our hands possible to have our players ready for tomorrow.”
He presented the match as a must-win, a strategy he uses in all of his games, rather than just an important one.
As the country prepares for a match that could determine its tournament fate, he said, “I never remember in my life playing one game that was not a must-win. The only medicine that works in football is to win.”
However, Partey’s absence has seriously hampered the Black Stars’ preparation. A federal judge on Tuesday affirmed Partey’s denial of entry into Canada because of his ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
Partey, who has entered a not guilty plea to several allegations of sexual assault and rape, had his request for immediate relief denied, depriving Ghana of one of its most powerful and seasoned leaders for this pivotal meeting.
Queiroz remained unwavering in the face of the turmoil, declining to engage in a discussion about the choice and declaring that his only concern was the resources available to him.
“My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me. We are waiting for a decision. When the decision comes, we are ready to make the final approach to the game,” he stated, but the confirmation of the appeal’s failure now necessitates a major rethinking of his midfield.
During the news conference, the Portuguese manager, who is only the third coach to oversee five World Cups, described the enormous challenge of creating a cohesive team in a brief amount of time.
Queiroz acknowledged the difficulty of forging a cohesive identity with a team that had players from three very distinct footballing cultures: French, English, and Spanish.
However, he commended his players for their openness and cooperative attitude.
In the absence of Partey and the injured Mohammed Kudus, captain Jordan Ayew and prolific forward Antoine Semenyo will bear a disproportionate amount of the attacking load as they attempt to overcome a well-organised Panamanian defence.
Panama, who are competing in just their second World Cup, are a tough opponent because of their reputation for tactical cohesiveness and discipline under coach Thomas Christiansen.
The “player number 12” is now responsible for providing the spark when the team’s tactical ideas are established. Queiroz made a fervent appeal to Ghanaian supporters to foster an intimidating environment.
The Black Stars realise that only a victory can genuinely quiet the uproar and begin their campaign in Canada, thus kickoff is set for 23:00 GMT.
Source: newsthemegh.com