Carlos Queiroz calls for support ahead of Ghana’s Gambia clash

[p]The Black Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ivory-coast/G2FRjBgn/"]Ivory Coast[/a] in Bouake last Thursday, with Malick Yalcouye and Franck Kessie scoring for the hosts.[/p][p]Queiroz believes [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a] can learn from the defeat and has used the days since the match to address areas that need improvement ahead of the Group C encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium.[/p][embed guid="fe52df63-0c8c-4c4a-82e6-844210c2dc74" url="https://x.com/GhanaBlackstars/status/2103974120144732587?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]“My view about the football matches. We always win or learn and we learned something in that game against Ivory Coast and that's why we focus in some aspects of preparations,”[/b] Queiroz said.[/p][p]“The boys are ready with a lot of motivation. My message to the fans is one of confidence, trust, and your support.[/p][p]“We cannot hide the reality, we are facing a couple of challenges, a couple of problems but Black Stars is not a problem.[/p][p]“Black Stars was never a problem, Black Stars is not a problem and Black Stars will never be a problem in the future.”[/p][h2]Queiroz confirms two players out[/h2][p]Ghana will have to cope without [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djiku-aleksander/UkrtOMnA/"]Alexander Djiku[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/donkor-ronald/8lSe4DC8/"]Ronald Donkor[/a] for Tuesday’s match.[/p][p]Djiku, who captained Ghana against Ivory Coast, was forced off during the defeat after picking up an injury. He has subsequently been ruled out of the game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/gambia/hADVg0uE/"]The Gambia[/a] after failing to recover in time.[/p][p]Donkor, meanwhile, will also miss the fixture through injury. The New York Red Bulls midfielder was handed his first senior call-up by Queiroz for the September international window after impressing in Major League Soccer.[/p][p]Despite the absences, Queiroz says 22 players are fit and available for the crucial qualifier and urged supporters to get behind those selected.[/p][p]“We have 22 players ready for tomorrow. Those are the most important players of Black Stars. Come here to support them,” he added.[/p][image alt="2027 AFCON Qualifiers Group C standings" id="65902b59-0379-4bcf-b45a-eb1812619a63" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="9456ed41-05f0-4967-b60c-9c5bff43a5cd" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Ghana are seeking their first points of the qualifying campaign after losing their opening Group C fixture in Ivory Coast.[/p][p]The Gambia, meanwhile, will be looking to make it two wins out of two after narrowly beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/somalia/Aiu9mqIL/"]Somalia[/a] on matchday one.[/p][p]The match is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29th at the Accra Sports Stadium, with kick-off at 4:00pm Ghana time.[/p][p]Ghana will then round off the international window with a friendly against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] in Tangier on October 4th.[/p][image alt="Owuraku Ampofo" id="345f5fd0-6a26-4f45-8078-6462582c5da7" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="afd869aa-3a81-4fbf-af32-fcee72902053" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]