Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz says the Black Stars must improve their finishing after beginning their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast.
The Black Stars were beaten at the Stade de Bouaké, with Brighton forward Malick Yalcouyé putting the hosts ahead before captain Franck Kessié doubled their advantage from the penalty spot after the break.
Despite the defeat, Queiroz believes Ghana created enough opportunities to get on the scoresheet and says greater efficiency in front of goal is needed.
“We played a more vertical style with more vertical movements to attack the defensive line of Côte d’Ivoire,” Queiroz said.
“We had a first approach in the game, and a second approach when Benjamin and Felix came on, and we could have scored. We had enough opportunities to score.
“We have to improve in that department, to improve our ability to score because this is another game that we did not score.”
Ghana have returned to Accra and will continue preparations for Tuesday’s Group C encounter with The Gambia as they look to claim their first points of the qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars are aiming to return to the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the previous edition.
That failure ended Ghana’s run of more than two decades of consecutive appearances at the continental tournament.
Queiroz will now look to oversee a response against The Gambia, with Ghana needing a positive result to get their qualifying campaign back on track.
