Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew has conceded that Ghana lost its defensive shape in the 1-0 defeat to Colombia, a result that ended their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign at the Round of 32 stage.
The South American side edged the contest on Saturday morning, bringing an end to what was also a likely final World Cup appearance for the 34-year-old, who has now featured in three editions of the tournament.
Reflecting on the setback, Ayew pointed to the limited preparation time under head coach Carlos Queiroz, who was appointed in April.
“We have a new manager; he just came two months ago, trying to install his style, and people are adjusting. You don’t adjust within one month or two months; football doesn’t work like that,” the 34-year-old told Sporty TV.
He added that while Ghana showed defensive improvement, they struggled in the final third.
“You could see that defensively, we were better, but we fell short a bit offensively, so we have to find the right balance. The manager needs time; he’s a very good manager,” Ayew added.
Ghana had progressed from the group stage after finishing third in Group L before their campaign came to an end at the first knockout hurdle.
