Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston has urged Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz to adopt a more attacking style of play, insisting Ghana cannot rely on defensive football if the team is to remain competitive at the highest level.
Although Queiroz earned praise for guiding the Black Stars to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, his cautious tactical approach has drawn criticism from sections of the Ghanaian football community.
Speaking to 3Sports, Kingston acknowledged that the Portuguese coach inherited a difficult task after taking charge of the national team just 72 days before the World Cup following the dismissal of Otto Addo in March 2026.
The former Ghana winger said those circumstances justified Queiroz’s conservative tactics during the tournament but warned that such an approach should not define the Black Stars going forward.
“What we saw at the World Cup won’t help us going forward if we continue to defend deep all the time because football has changed,” Kingston said.
Queiroz took charge with limited preparation time but successfully guided Ghana out of Group L before the Black Stars suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32.
Kingston credited the experienced tactician for stabilising the team under difficult circumstances, describing defensive organisation as one of Queiroz’s greatest strengths.
“For me, Carlos did very well. His approach helped us because he was new and didn’t know the team very well. His biggest strength is his defensive organisation. If you don’t know a team well and try to make them attack immediately, you become vulnerable,” he explained.
Despite praising the coach’s World Cup performance, Kingston stressed that Ghana must become a more proactive side if it hopes to compete consistently with the world’s best teams.
He expressed confidence that Queiroz has the tactical ability to introduce a more attack-minded philosophy if he is given enough time to build the team.
“Carlos has an attacking side to his football as well. If we give him two years, we should see that side of him,” Kingston added.
The former Black Stars midfielder also argued that Ghana’s style of play should reflect the country’s traditional football identity, which has long been associated with technical quality and creativity.
“When appointing a coach for Ghana, we must consider the type of players we have. Ghanaian players like to express themselves with the ball, so Carlos should adapt his approach,” he said.
Kingston believes the Black Stars have enough technically gifted players to play a more expansive brand of football, provided they are developed within a clear long-term tactical vision.
Queiroz’s future as Ghana head coach remains uncertain after signing a short-term contract, with a decision on his tenure expected as the Black Stars prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
