Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz says he was disappointed by Ghana’s defeat to Côte d’Ivoire but remains encouraged by the commitment shown by his players.
The four-time African champions began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-0 loss in Bouaké last Thursday, where debutant Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié scored to give the hosts victory.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s Group C clash against The Gambia, Queiroz admitted the result was difficult to accept but insisted the performance gave him reasons for optimism.
“Just like the fans, I was not happy that Ghana lost to Côte d’Ivoire, but I’m proud that we tried to win the game,” he said.
The Portuguese coach believes the Black Stars displayed the right mentality despite suffering defeat in his first competitive match since returning for a second spell in charge.
Ghana will welcome The Gambia to the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, with kick-off set for 16:00 GMT.
The defeat in Bouaké left the Black Stars without a point after their opening fixture, increasing the importance of Tuesday’s encounter.
Victory over the Scorpions would give Ghana their first points of the campaign and strengthen their hopes of securing a place at the 2027 AFCON, after missing the 2025 finals in Morocco and ending a run of more than two decades of consecutive tournament appearances.
