Carlos Queiroz has issued a direct message to the nation as Ghana prepare to open their qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The 73-year-old Portuguese tactician warned that the four-time African champions must temper expectations and earn their place back among the continent’s elite before dreaming of silverware. After missing out on the 2025 finals in Morocco—a bitter setback that halted a long run of consecutive tournament appearances—the Black Stars face a vital rebuilding phase aimed at securing a spot at the next edition in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.

Ghana’s recent continental trajectory has been challenging, marked by successive group-stage exits before failing to qualify for the 2025 showpiece altogether. Despite those setbacks, public anticipation remains high among supporters eager to see the team challenge for a fifth AFCON title. Queiroz, however, insists that grand ambitions mean nothing without grounded effort. “We must have ambition, but also humility,” Queiroz stated. “We know our recent history, and we cannot talk about winning AFCON when we have not yet qualified. We have to work, grow, compete and earn our destiny.”

The immediate testing ground for Queiroz’s squad comes with a demanding sequence of fixtures. The Black Stars launch their qualifying campaign on September 24 with a high-stakes away match against neighbours Côte d’Ivoire. Five days later, on September 29, Ghana host Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium before traveling to Morocco for an international friendly against the Atlas Lions on October 4. Securing positive results in these opening matches is paramount for a nation seeking to move past recent disappointment, including memories of the 2015 final where Ghana lost on penalties to Côte d’Ivoire in Equatorial Guinea.

While navigating qualification for the 2027 finals remains the immediate mandate, Queiroz is simultaneously mapping out a broader tactical horizon. Having led Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the veteran coach views this qualification cycle as the foundational step toward constructing a squad capable of sustained success on the world stage.

“Hands on the present, eyes on the future,” Queiroz explained, outlining the vision guiding his long-term plan. “The priority is very clear: absolute focus on AFCON qualification, with our eyes set on the 2030 World Cup. We have an immediate objective that demands our full concentration, but we also have a greater destination ahead of us. This is the moment to start building the team for 2030, a team truly capable of honouring Ghana’s extraordinary World Cup legacy.”