Queiroz apologises after Gambia beat Ghana 4-2 in Accra qualifier

Pinned summary · as of 06:11

A two-goal lead slipped away from Ghana on Tuesday, 29 September, as the Black Stars lost by four goals to two against The Gambia in Accra, a Group C tie in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Head coach Carlos Queiroz said sorry to supporters and stood by his position, while captain Gideon Mensah accepted his share of the blame.

What we know

• On Tuesday The Gambia recovered from two goals behind to beat Ghana 4-2 in Accra, handing the hosts a second successive Group C loss.
• Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan were Ghana's scorers before The Gambia hit back.
• Queiroz apologised to Ghanaian fans after the game. “We have to say sorry to our fans, to our supporters,” the coach said.
• Queiroz rejected the idea that the loss makes him a failure and pointed to his record for wins in international football.
• Asked about quitting, Queiroz said he would step aside if that would fix Ghana football, but that his future is for the Ghana Football Association board to decide.
• Queiroz also insisted the Black Stars themselves have never been the problem, and denied that the result was a step backwards.
• Mensah, who wore the armband, said fortune went against Ghana and that he takes responsibility for what happened. “Luck wasn’t on our side,” he said.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

• ?
  The two reports describe the comeback differently. Adom Online said The Gambia scored four times after the break, while SportsWorldGhana said the visitors got a penalty and an equaliser before half-time, with Queiroz blaming two goals just before the interval for wrecking morale.
• ?
  Queiroz told SportsWorldGhana that 24 players from the senior side were unavailable through injury and other absences, that Ghana began with only two centre-backs and that the team is eight competitive away games without a win. Adom Online instead described a seven-match winless run in qualifiers. Neither claim has been confirmed by other reports.
• ?
  Adom Online reported that Queiroz defended his selection, saying he used the best players available, and praised substitutes Ibrahim and Augustine. This was not carried by SportsWorldGhana in the same terms.
• ?
  Mensah told SportsWorldGhana that some newcomers lacked the mentality and urgency that comes with wearing Ghana's shirt, and that players were relaxed after the second goal. These remarks have not been reported elsewhere.
• ?
  Adom Online reported that two October home games against Somalia are next for Ghana, and that the country missed the last Africa Cup of Nations, in Morocco. It also said the campaign began with a Bouaké defeat by Côte d'Ivoire, by two goals to nil. No second report has confirmed these details.
• ?
  Adom Online said Alexander Djiku missed the game after returning to his club injured; a former international, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, had earlier urged caution at the back. Neither point has been confirmed by another report.

Why it matters for Ghana

Ghana are bottom of Group C with no points, so every remaining qualifier now carries heavy weight for fans in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and beyond who want the team back at the Africa Cup of Nations. The pressure on Queiroz, and on the Ghana Football Association board that Queiroz says decides his future, is likely to grow with each result. Supporters will next look to the October home fixtures for a response.