Afriyie questions Queiroz’s 4-month gamble, Ahinful says players key to success
Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice-President George Afriyie has thrown his weight behind new Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz, but launched a sharp critique of the decision to hand the veteran tactician a short-term contract, insisting Ghana needed stability, not a four-month gamble.
He said the FA may have misjudged the scale of the task by handing the Portuguese a short-term deal, insisting that Ghana should have secured Queiroz on a minimum two-year contract to guarantee stability, continuity and a realistic shot at success on the global stage beyond the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Queiroz, unveiled in Accra last Thursday, has been tasked with leading Ghana at the Mundial in the USA, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
His initial four-month contract is tied to performance, with a quarter-final finish set as the trigger for an extended stay.
But for Mr Afriyie, a former Black Stars Management Committee Chairman, that arrangement falls short of what a national team of Ghana’s stature requires.
“At this point, we can only offer our prayers and support the decision taken by the leadership of the FA so that the team can do well at the Mundial,” Afriyie told the Daily Graphic.
“But having said that, let me say this. I made it clear from the beginning that whoever they are going to hire for this time must be a long-term coach, at least for two years. That is what I know,” he stressed.
Afriyie’s concern is rooted in the demands of the international football calendar, which he says demands forward planning, not short-term fixes.
“National team coaches are hired for a minimum of two years. The reason is very simple. The calendar of the national team is always out there for you to consider. Remember, immediately after the World Cup, there’s also an African Cup of Nations qualifier ahead of you, and then an African Cup of Nations tournament as well,” he explained.
With Ghana still chasing a first AFCON title in over 40 years, Mr Afriyie believes only a long-term technical plan can break that cycle.
“Remember, we’ve not won the African Cup of Nations for over 40-something years, so at least, it is another trophy that Ghanaians are yearning to see. So, you just have to bring in a coach who will plan a long timetable.”
While Afriyie raises structural concerns, former Black Stars striker Augustine Ahinful has adopted a more cautious stance, choosing to reserve judgment while acknowledging the intrigue surrounding Queiroz’s appointment.
For Ahinful, the veteran tactician’s vast experience — spanning more than four decades and eight national teams — offers reason for guarded optimism.
“He’s an experienced coach, a father figure, 73 years old, and he’s been in the business for a long time. So, psychologically and in terms of motivating the players, he will always be capable of doing that,” Ahinful said.
“Let’s hope that his coming will bring the needed flow to the team.”
However, Ahinful was quick to emphasise that the success of the project will ultimately hinge on the quality and form of the playing squad.
“But also, don’t forget that the players that we have and at any given time, the players that we are going to select, will determine how the team will perform,” he noted.
He also referenced assurances from the FA, suggesting that Queiroz’s preparation and data-driven approach could prove decisive.
Still, he pointed to encouraging signals from within the FA, saying: “I think I’ve read snippets of his interviews, and I know what I heard the FA spokesperson say, that he has all the data of the players, and he has been following the players. So, we will just have to believe what the spokesperson has said, and then we’ll run by it.”
