Good Luck Queiroz, Black Stars
Amid funfair and pomp, Portuguese football manager Carlos Queiroz gave Ghana a feel of what to expect from his time as Manager of the Black Stars at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as he received a warm introduction to his new job last Thursday.
The unveiling in Accra in front of an excited band of supporters, a mix of local and foreign press, football administrators, and wide coverage across traditional and online media platforms marked the new phase of a national football project.
The Black Stars, a perennial continental football superpower, have only shown glimpses of their credentials in fits lately, hardly reaching the heights of predecessor teams at major tournaments.
While the team managed to cross the World Cup qualification line with some effort, it nonetheless carries the weight of heavy expectations from a fan base of nationals deeply connected to their football.
As a sport that unites the nation more than anything, football has played its role in national development across the decades of republican status.
The success of the Black Stars in particular has sparked spontaneous celebrations across the country in ways that might defy the appreciation of the sport elsewhere.
Queiroz appears to understand the psyche of a passionate football nation, and spoke the appropriate language at his unveiling.
"I understand the Ghanaian language, which is winning, and I'm here to win," he said to wild cheers from the supporters dressed in colourful clothes.
Those were reassuring words of comfort, the kind desperately sought by those who dispensed with the services of Otto Addo just about 72 days to the tournament, and also for the often animated supporters who crave the team's success irrespective of prevailing circumstances.
Across the faces of officials seated at the ceremony, the wild grins spoke of a common feeling of vindication for the late change to the managerial headship as the FIFA World Cup, to be hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada, approaches with speed.
After all, Queiroz has decades of experience at the top level of football management and a stash of World Cup experience under his sleeve.
But we cannot be oblivious of the financial consequences of ditching Addo for Queiroz. Compensation for the former Borussia Dortmund youth coach is said to be around $500,000. In addition to the Portuguese's decent salary and other bonuses, Ghana's financial commitment to the World Cup is not a joke.
That is why this experiment cannot be taken lightly for the sake of it. It must yield the best possible outcome where the country can reap from the investment in direct earnings from the tournament and in soft form that will project the country for tourism and other prospects.
The new manager must deliver.
The Ghana Football Association, the Black Stars management and the supervising Ministry of Sports and Recreation must guarantee serenity around the new manager, cutting off any chances of interference that can undermine his work and the general effort of the team.
The Daily Graphic wishes Queiroz and the Black Stars good luck in their new adventure together!
