Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has challenged his players to keep Africa’s hopes alive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by securing a place in the quarter-finals with victory over Colombia.
The Black Stars face the South American side in their Round of 16 clash at the Kansas City Stadium on Saturday, knowing they are among the continent’s last remaining representatives in the competition.
Ghana’s responsibility has grown following the exits of Senegal, South Africa, DR Congo and Ivory Coast, leaving Morocco as the only other African nation still in contention.
African teams have once again fallen short in the knockout stages, with several surrendering winning positions after adopting overly defensive tactics in the closing stages of matches.
Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter on Thursday, Queiroz said Ghana must seize the opportunity to change the narrative and ensure another African nation progresses in the tournament.
​“It’s another challenge for us, but we have to improve these stats. We have to make it better. So it’s on our shoulders to be sure that we add another African team to the next round,” the 73-year-old added.Â
The Black Stars are featuring in the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time since their memorable run to the quarter-finals in South Africa in 2010.
Kick-off is scheduled for 01:30 GMT on Saturday, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
