Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has defended his decision to retain goalkeeper Solomon Agbasi within Ghana’s World Cup camp despite the Hearts of Oak shot-stopper missing out on the country’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Agbasi was omitted from the official list submitted to FIFA ahead of the tournament in North America but will remain with the Black Stars as a standby option throughout the competition.
Queiroz explained that the arrangement is aimed at strengthening Ghana’s goalkeeping depth while also supporting the long-term development of the young goalkeeper.
“We have the privilege to have another player who has accepted to be with us, be part of our team, be part of our training, and be ready if something happens in our goalkeeping department. So we have another player, who is player number 27,” Queiroz said.
The Portuguese tactician noted that Agbasi’s continued involvement serves two important objectives.
According to him, the first is to expose the goalkeeper to the demands of elite international football as part of Ghana’s wider goalkeeper development strategy.
“First of all, it will be part of our development programme for goalkeepers in Ghana. So we allow him to grow up, to be ready. He’s a young goalkeeper with fantastic qualities,” he explained.
Queiroz stressed that Agbasi’s presence in camp is also a practical decision designed to safeguard the team against any unexpected goalkeeping setbacks during the tournament.
“The second reason is to sustain the training and preparation of the team and cover the eventual situation of replacement, because if we are forced to make that decision, he will be ready to compete and be part of the team. He is ready to perform.”
Ghana’s final squad features Benjamin Asare, Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Joseph Anang as the three selected goalkeepers, with Agbasi taking up the role of designated “player number 27.”
The Black Stars are currently fine-tuning preparations with a series of international friendlies ahead of the World Cup. Ghana will take on Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium before wrapping up their pre-tournament schedule against Jamaica on June 10.
Focus will then shift to the World Cup, where Ghana have been placed in Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia.
The four-time African champions will open their campaign against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field before facing England six days later. Their group-stage journey will conclude with a clash against Croatia on June 27.
Having endured consecutive group-stage eliminations at recent World Cups, Ghana will head to North America eager to return to the knockout rounds for the first time since their memorable quarter-final appearance at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
