Former Ibrahim Sannie Daara has urged Ghanaians to temper their expectations following the appointment of Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the Black Stars, cautioning against assuming an immediate transformation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Portuguese tactician, 73, was officially unveiled on April 13, stepping in for Otto Addo after a disappointing stretch of performances raised concerns about Ghana’s readiness for the global tournament set to be hosted in North America.
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Despite acknowledging Queiroz’s extensive managerial pedigree, Sannie Daara stressed that the realities within the current squad demand a grounded and pragmatic outlook.
“We should not overplay our hand in expecting that Carlos Queiroz can instantly take us to the quarter-finals or semi-finals,” he said.
He highlighted structural issues within the team, pointing to injuries and a lack of depth as significant obstacles that cannot be fixed overnight. According to him, managing public expectations will be just as important as tactical preparation in the months leading up to the tournament.
“We have to minimise our expectations and be honest about where our squad is, the injuries we have and the calibre of players available at the moment, so we don’t raise hopes unnecessarily,” he added.
“Let’s be measured in our expectations. Of course, we should push the team to perform above itself, but we must also admit that our squad is not there yet.”
Queiroz’s appointment comes with a short-term focus, with his primary assignment being to organise and prepare the team for what promises to be a stern group-stage challenge. Ghana have been drawn into a difficult pool alongside England, Croatia, and Panama, fixtures that will test both the squad’s resilience and the new coach’s immediate impact.
With limited time to implement his philosophy, the emphasis now shifts to steady progress rather than lofty promises, as Ghana aim to navigate a demanding path on football’s biggest stage.
