2026 World Cup: Let’s be measured in our expectations – Sannie Daara on Carlos Queiroz’s Black Stars appointment

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director Ibrahim Sannie Daara has called for tempered expectations following the appointment of Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the Black Stars.

Queiroz, the experienced Portuguese tactician who has previously managed teams including Portugal, Iran and Egypt, was officially appointed on 13 April 2026, replacing Otto Addo.

Addo was relieved of his duties after Ghana suffered consecutive defeats to Austria and Germany in March, despite successfully guiding the team to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

While acknowledging Queiroz’s pedigree on the international stage, Sannie Daara cautioned against unrealistic expectations, stressing that the current squad may not yet be equipped to challenge the world’s top football nations.

“We should not overplay our hands in expecting that Carlos Queiroz can instantly take us to the quarter-finals or semi-finals,” he said.

He further emphasised the need for a sober evaluation of the team’s current condition, citing injuries and squad depth as key concerns.

“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.

“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," he added.

Queiroz has been handed a short-term mandate with immediate focus on preparing Ghana for what is expected to be a demanding group stage campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

The 73-year-old arrives with a wealth of experience at the global level, having led South Africa to World Cup qualification in 2002, guided Portugal to the knockout stages in 2010, and taken Iran to the 2014 and 2018 tournaments.

He is expected to be officially unveiled in Ghana this week, as he begins the task of restoring stability and improving the Black Stars’ performances on the world stage, following early exits at the 2014 and 2022 World Cups in Brazil and Qatar, respectively.