Former Ghana Football Association Vice President Fred Pappoe has appealed to Ghanaians to unite in support of newly appointed Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz as the country prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Queiroz, a vastly experienced Portuguese tactician, has been handed a short-term mandate to steer Ghana into the global showpiece, taking over from Otto Addo.
Addo’s tenure came to an end after a string of disappointing results, including successive friendly losses to Austria and Germany during the March international window, as well as the team’s failure to qualify for AFCON 2025 despite continued institutional backing.
In an interview with Adom FM, Pappoe emphasized that the focus now must shift from past setbacks to collective support for the new man in charge.
“We have limited time for the World Cup, and if you look at the list available and you check our pockets, I believe we have to rally behind whoever has been appointed,” he said.
He pointed out that the appointment of Queiroz reflects a deliberate decision by both the Ghana Football Association and the Sports Ministry to bring in a seasoned figure capable of reshaping the team:
“We were all clamouring for a respected coach, and someone who can transform the team and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) together with the Sports Ministry has come out with their choice, and we have to support him.”
Pappoe further highlighted Queiroz’s impressive résumé, particularly his extensive experience on football’s biggest stage, urging critics to adopt a more constructive stance:
“He has been at the World Cup four times, and we don’t have to focus on the negatives, but rather support him.”
The new coach is expected to begin working closely with the squad next month when Ghana convenes for international friendlies against Mexico and Wales, key fixtures aimed at fine-tuning the team ahead of the tournament.
Ghana will be making its fifth World Cup appearance and faces a challenging path in Group L of the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Black Stars are scheduled to open their campaign against Panama on June 17, before taking on England and Croatia in subsequent group matches.
With memories of underwhelming performances in recent World Cups still lingering, Queiroz now carries the responsibility of restoring belief and delivering a more competitive showing on the global stage.
