Ghana’s Black Stars lost 4-2 to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, extending their winless streak in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers to eight matches. The defeat deepens the team’s struggles as they try to secure a place at the 2027 AFCON tournament.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz acknowledged the long stretch without a win, saying the problems did not begin with his recent return to the national team. “It’s not the first time that Ghana does win a match in the qualifiers. It’s become number eight. So this issue doesn’t start today. It doesn’t start yesterday. We have 8 games,” Queiroz said. “The last time Ghana won one game was 8 games before.”
The Black Stars’ poor run in qualifiers stretches back before Queiroz took over after Ghana’s disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign. Tuesday’s loss was their second consecutive defeat under his management, following a 2-0 loss to Côte d’Ivoire in their opening Group C fixture for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Gambia’s win at the Accra Sports Stadium was a blow to Ghana’s hopes of returning to the continental tournament after missing out on the 2025 AFCON. Ghana’s failure to qualify for that tournament was a result of a similarly poor qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars must now turn around their form in the remaining qualifiers to have a chance at the 2027 tournament. Their recent results suggest that will be a difficult task. The team’s inability to win in eight matches highlights ongoing issues that have not been resolved despite changes in coaching.
The defeat to The Gambia was particularly painful for Ghanaian fans, who expected home advantage to help the Black Stars. Instead, The Gambia’s four goals showed a gap that Ghana has struggled to close in recent years during key qualifiers.
Queiroz’s comments suggest the team’s problems run deeper than recent management. The coach’s return has not yet resulted in a change of fortunes as Ghana tries to rebuild after missing the 2025 tournament.
The Black Stars face pressure to improve quickly. The group stage of the 2027 qualifiers will test whether Ghana can regain form or if the run without a win will stretch even further. The next matches will be crucial for the team’s future in African football.
According to Joy Online.
