Carlos Queiroz: We want to be the second African team to advance

Ghana's national team coach, Carlos Queiroz, expressed his ambition for his team to follow Morocco's example and qualify for the World Cup knockout stages. This could happen with a victory in their upcoming clash against Colombia.

Out of the ten African representatives at the tournament, nine reached the elimination phase, but most have already concluded their participation. Currently, only Morocco, a 2022 semi-finalist, has secured a spot in the next round. Teams like South Africa, Senegal, DR Congo, Algeria, and Ivory Coast have already been eliminated. Friday will see the match between Egypt and Cape Verde, after which Ghana will play its decisive game against Colombia.

“This is an additional challenge for us. We want to become the second African team to advance,” stated the 73-year-old Queiroz. “The real World Cup starts now. These are the matches everyone wants to be a part of.”

For the Portuguese specialist, this is his fifth World Cup, having previously led Portugal and Iran. He did not rule out the possibility of returning for the 2030 championship. “Yes, I think about it. Every morning I wake up with the desire to become a better coach and a better person,” he shared.

Queiroz, who was at the helm of Colombia from 2019-2020, will face many of the players he coached, including captain James Rodríguez and Bayern Munich forward Luis Díaz.

When asked about speculation in Colombian media regarding strained relationships with some players, including Rodríguez, Queiroz categorically dismissed them. “I don't share your opinion,” he responded to claims that players disagreed with his decisions. “I can say that I truly enjoyed my work with the Colombian team,” he added, recalling the difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Portuguese coach admitted that his familiarity with the opponent could be an advantage. “I know the Colombian players quite well. However, we need to analyze their current squad, not just their past one. Of course, we are aware of all the qualities these footballers possess,” Queiroz commented.

Regarding the upcoming match, he emphasized that Ghana must impose its style and capitalize on any potential weaknesses of the South Americans, adding that in a knockout game, there is no room for errors.

“Colombia is not a perfect team. A good team, but not perfect. We are a great team, but also not perfect. It will be a great match, regardless of the final result,” concluded the Ghana coach.