Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) vice-president George Afriyie has criticised the Black Stars’ tactical approach at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting Carlos Queiroz’s defensive philosophy did not suit Ghana’s traditional style of play.
Although Queiroz guided Ghana to the Round of 32 for the first time since 2010, Afriyie believes the team’s cautious approach failed to maximise the attacking talent available in the squad.
Speaking on Sporty FM, Afriyie argued that the GFA’s technical leadership should have considered a coach whose philosophy aligned with Ghana’s attacking football identity.
“Exactly what they label the coach is what we witnessed at the World Cup. If you are the Ghana FA’s technical director and understand Ghanaian football, a defensive-minded coach doesn’t fit here,” he said.
Afriyie also dismissed the notion that using a lone striker automatically makes a team defensive, pointing to former Black Stars stars Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari and Kwadwo Asamoah as examples of how Ghana previously played attacking football with a single centre-forward.
He further argued that Ghana’s 26-man World Cup squad, which included several wingers and creative attackers, had the quality to adopt a more adventurous style.
“That’s what we are known for. We went to the World Cup with a lot of wingers who like to express themselves,” he added.
The Black Stars scored two goals in four matches before their World Cup campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32.
Attention now turns to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where Ghana will be aiming to secure a return to the continental tournament after missing the previous edition.
