Black Stars defender Jerome Opoku has called for patience and perspective after Ghana were held to a 1-1 draw by Wales in their latest 2026 FIFA World Cup preparation match at Cardiff City Stadium.
Ghana took a second-half lead through Caleb Yirenkyi after a goalless opening period, but a late lapse in concentration allowed Lewis Koumas to restore parity in the dying moments of the contest.
Despite the disappointment of conceding late, Opoku insisted the performance showed clear signs of progress under head coach Carlos Queiroz, especially given the limited time the squad has had together.
“I thought it was a performance for us to be proud of,” Opoku said. “As the head coach said, we felt we should have won the game. It’s just the little details now, and something to build on given the short time we’ve worked together.”
He highlighted the disruption caused by delayed arrivals within the squad, noting that several players only joined the camp shortly before the match due to visa complications.
“The keyword is time, as the coach said,” he added. “Considering the amount of time we’ve had together, with new additions coming in, I was pleased we could put that performance out there. It shows that with more time, we can only get better as a team.”
Queiroz also confirmed after the match that some players arrived from London on the eve of the fixture after sorting out documentation issues, leaving the team with just one full training session before facing Wales.
Ghana will continue their preparations with another friendly against Jamaica on June 10 before heading to the 2026 World Cup.
At the tournament, the Black Stars have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia. They open their campaign against Panama on June 17, before facing England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.
The four-time African champions are aiming to reach the knockout stage for the first time since their memorable quarter-final run in 2010.
