The Portuguese tactician lauded his players’ resilience, tactical sacrifice, and mental growth after Ghana secured a dramatic 1-0 victory in their World Cup opener.
Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz praised his players’ resilience and tactical sacrifice following the Black Stars’ hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama at Toronto Stadium, hailing their ability to weather early pressure and grow into the game.
“We knew we’d suffer, then grow into the game,” Queiroz said in his post-match press conference. “The players fought like warriors, took control step by step, and scored.”
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The Portuguese tactician acknowledged that Panama dominated the first half and controlled the structural flow of the match. He noted that his young squad had to display massive mental growth to weather the early pressure before taking command in the final half-hour.
“To win at this level, you must sacrifice,” Queiroz said. A win at this World Cup, it’s very expensive.
Responding to questions about Ghana’s quiet offensive display in the first half, the 73-year-old manager emphasised that securing three points is what matters most at the tournament stage, regardless of whether the team plays at its absolute best.
Queiroz heavily praised the impact of his bench options, specifically noting how the team’s transition speed and energy completely shifted after the second-half introductions of Brandon Thomas-Asante and Caleb Yirenkyi, who scored the 94th-minute winner.
The veteran coach immediately ran over to celebrate with the traveling Ghanaian supporters in the wet Toronto weather after the winner, underscoring his connection with the fans.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, the victory marks a prestigious individual milestone for Queiroz. He has officially become just the third head coach in football history to manage in five different editions of the World Cup, joining Carlos Alberto Parreira and Bora Milutinović.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on June 18, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
