You cannot build a winning team if you are constantly changing players, says Carlos Queiroz

Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz says Ghana must maintain a consistent core of players if they are to build a team capable of sustained success.

The Portuguese coach made the remarks ahead of Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Gambia on Tuesday, insisting that constantly changing the squad makes it difficult to develop a winning team.

“You cannot build a winning team if you change every camp; you change seven, eight, nine players,” Queiroz said.

The 73-year-old argued that occasional qualification for major tournaments or isolated successes should not be viewed as evidence of a winning culture.

“To win or qualify one team once in a while is not about having a winning team, a culture team, a champions team,” he added.

Queiroz believes Ghana must build a side capable of consistently competing for major honours, including the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup.

He pointed to some of the Black Stars’ notable achievements in the past, including Ghana’s 1982 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and their run to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup.

“We need more heroes,” he said.

While stressing the importance of long-term planning, Queiroz said his immediate focus was on securing victory against The Gambia after Ghana began their AFCON qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké.

“We have to win the game tomorrow,” he said. “But at the same time, we have to put the seeds of the future.”

Queiroz called for the development of a settled group of players, backed by clear communication and trust between the Ghana Football Association, the technical team and the squad.

“We need to have the core of the team prepared and ready to come,” he said.

The coach believes greater stability within the national team will help Ghana develop the consistency needed to compete at the highest level.

The Black Stars are seeking a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, ending a run of more than two decades of consecutive appearances.

Ghana are currently without a point in Group C following their defeat by Côte d’Ivoire and will be looking to get their campaign back on track against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.