Carlos Queiroz takes positives despite late Wales equaliser: "We let it slip from our pocket"
Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz said he saw a lot of positives from the Black Stars' 1-1 draw with Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday night, despite conceding a stoppage-time equaliser that denied his side a first victory since October 2025.
The Portuguese trainer, who has had only a week to work with his squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, praised his players' response to his instructions and insisted the performance offers promise despite the late heartbreak.
"I'm very proud of my players. They gave everything to win the game. We let it slip in the last minutes. It was in our pocket," Queiroz said after the match.
"But this is also time to learn. We don't learn from the draw itself, but we learn that when we are winning 1-0, there is no way we can let it slip from our pocket. Unfortunately, it happens. We did good things. I was happy with the players and the performance."
Only one full training session
Queiroz revealed that his preparations had been severely hampered by visa issues, with several players only arriving from London on the eve of the match after sorting out their documentation.
"They only arrived from London yesterday after sorting out visa issues. We've been training with nine to eleven players, and only yesterday did we have one full training session," he explained.
"We assembled the team and I asked them to do a couple of simple things."
Despite the disjointed build-up, Queiroz said what pleased him most was the way his players responded to his game plan.
"They were excellent. They followed, respected, and trusted the plan. Just one example – the centre-backs cooperated very well. They were brilliant. They followed the basic rules: calm, confident. So, we have a good starting point. With ten days of training next week, we will make a lot of progress."
The 270-minute World Cup strategy
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Queiroz framed Ghana's group stage campaign as a single 270-minute contest spanning three matches.
"We have one major goal. We have to play one game with three parts of 90 minutes. Every part is 90 minutes – 90, 90, 90. At the end of 270 minutes, we must be guaranteed qualification for the second round. That is the main goal and the main priority.
"We have to play this 270-minute game – first half, second half, third half – and qualify. When we reach the second round, the show starts. That's when the real World Cup starts: the knockout stage."
He confirmed that Ghana would play one more friendly in the United States before facing Panama in their Group L opener on June 17.
Defence of Thomas Partey
Queiroz was also asked about the persistent booing directed at midfielder Thomas Partey from the Welsh crowd. The Villarreal player, who faces trial in London in June 2027 on multiple charges of serious sexual offences to which he has pleaded not guilty, was jeered every time he touched the ball.
"I'm not surprised. We live in a weird world," Queiroz said. "I'm never tired of saying it. You should be concerned with how this modern world works – where anyone can say or do whatever they want with total impunity.
"Nobody should be judged or condemned before a court makes a decision. The presumption of innocence must apply to everyone, starting with you, the press. But you publish things before the court. That's your problem. You are responsible for creating this culture of impunity.
"I hear barbaric things said about me, about players, about coaches. But I can't shut myself off. It's the modern world. I have to accept it. But honestly, I don't like it. I have the right to say I don't like it."
Winning is all that matters
Queiroz dismissed any notion that attractive football matters without results, emphasising that his sole focus is on victory.
"I've seen many great teams – from Bayern Munich to others – win with 70% possession. But the game is not about possession. The game is about the skill to put the ball in the net, defend your goal, and win the game.
"If we have 80% possession and lose, I don't care. I go mad if we attack 80% and lose. If we defend 80% – quality defending, eyes on the ball, always looking to score – and we win, I'm happy. Because when I'm happy, it means the fans are happy, the people are happy, the country is happy.
"We play to make them happy. If we don't win, they're not happy. We cannot be happy, no matter how attacking or beautiful we play, if we don't win. Nobody cares about that. I've never seen books praising teams that play fantastic football but don't get results."
On Ghana's winless run
Queiroz acknowledged that Ghana have not won in their last six attempts, a fact he said the team must accept and address.
"You're right, we did not win. We know that. We are the first ones unhappy because our wish was to start this journey with a win. But it's also a challenge. To win, you have to score at least one goal. Today it didn't happen. We have to admit it, accept it, and make it better."
On young midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi, who scored his first international goal, Queiroz was full of praise.
"He is a great player. He has a great future. He is still young and has a lot to learn. At this level, everything is so fast. Young players need talent and experience. I believe that with more experience, he can become one of the best players in the national team."
Ghana will now travel to the United States for further training and one additional friendly before their World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto on June 17.
