Carlos Queiroz's defensive-mindset not good for Black Stars - Ex-GFA veep George Afriyie
Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) vice-president George Afriyie has questioned the Black Stars' tactical approach at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that the team's cautious class did not reflect Ghana's traditional attacking identity.
Ghana, under Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, reached the knockout stage for the first time since 2010 after progressing from their group.
The Black Stars recorded a 1-0 victory over Panama and held England to a goalless draw before losing 2-1 to Croatia. They were eliminated in the Round of 32 after a narrow 1-0 defeat by Colombia.
However, the future of the former Egypt and Iran boss remains uncertain, with reports suggesting he will leave his role after signing a four-month deal in April.
Despite Ghana's progress from the group, Afriyie believes the team's performances highlighted concerns over Queiroz's tactical philosophy.
Speaking to Sporty FM, he said the coach's reputation for defensive football was evident during the tournament and questioned why the GFA's technical leadership allowed that approach to dominate a team traditionally known for attacking football.
“And exactly what they label the coach is what we witness at the World Cup. But you see, this is where a technical director comes in. If you are a Ghana Football Association technical director, who is well-versed with the class of Ghanaian football, a defensive-minded coach doesn't fit up here,” he said.
Afriyie also rejected suggestions that playing with a lone striker necessarily means a team is adopting a defensive approach.
He argued that Ghana had previously operated with one recognised striker while still playing an attacking brand of football.
“Look, people will say that Milo came to play one-top. No, playing one-top doesn't necessarily mean that you are playing defensive,” he added.
The former GFA vice-president pointed to past Black Stars combinations involving Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari, Kwadwo Asamoah and Stephen Appiah as examples of how Ghana could maintain an attacking approach despite using a single striker.
“A certain Asamoah Gyan with Sulley Muntari, Kwadwo Asamoah, or even Stephen is different. It's a more attacking approach.”
Afriyie believes attacking football remains a key part of Ghana's footballing identity and questioned why the Black Stars adopted a more cautious approach despite having several attacking players in their squad.
He said the composition of Ghana's 26-man World Cup squad suggested that Queiroz had enough attacking options to adopt a more adventurous tactical system.
“And that is what we are noted for. You went to the World Cup with a lot of wingers who like to express themselves.”
“Look at the list of the 26-man squad. It shows that we even went with a minimum defensive-class kind of approach. But that's your coach,” he concluded.
Ghana scored just two goals in four matches at the 2026 World Cup, despite progressing beyond the group stage.
The Black Stars will now turn their attention to qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.