Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has called on his players to respond quickly after the Black Stars suffered a second consecutive defeat in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Ghana surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, leaving the four-time African champions without a point from their opening two Group C matches.
The Black Stars had been hoping to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat by Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké last Thursday after taking control against The Gambia with a 2-0 lead.
However, the visitors staged a remarkable comeback to claim all three points and leave Ghana facing an uphill battle in their bid to qualify for the 2027 tournament.
Despite the disappointing start, Queiroz rejected the suggestion that the defeat represented a step backwards for his team.
“We cannot say it is a step back. What we can do is to be better prepared, better organised for the next games and win the next games. This is what we have to get done,” Queiroz said after the match.
Ghana now have no margin for error as they look to revive their qualification campaign in their remaining Group C fixtures.
The Black Stars will return to action in October when they face Somalia in a double-header at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Ghana are seeking to return to the continental showpiece after missing the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The latest defeats have increased the pressure on Queiroz and his squad, with Ghana needing a strong response in their next matches to keep their hopes of reaching the 2027 tournament alive.
