The Ghana captain accepted responsibility for the loss at the Accra Sports Stadium, but said the team could still respond in their remaining qualifiers.

We have the chance to do it again and to make people happy again, Mensah said.

Ghana began strongly by scoring twice, before The Gambia fought back to complete a dramatic turnaround. Mensah said the result was one of those occasions when luck was not on our side, while acknowledging that the team had not performed as required.

As captain today, I also take responsibility for everything that happened on the field, he said. We have to protect the boys and protect the national team. We can take the criticism and everything that is supposed to come to us.

Mensah said the squads lack of experience had contributed to the team failing to maintain its intensity, with several players making their first appearances for Ghana.

He explained that newcomers needed time to understand the demands of representing the national team, including the mentality and urgency required when wearing the Ghana jersey.

Playing for Ghana, where everybody lives off football, is completely different from club football, he said. Everybody is happy when Ghana wins a game. I think that was the part we were missing.

Mensah pointed to the reaction after Ghana scored their second goal as an example of the areas still requiring improvement. He said everyone was literally on the sideline, adding that such understanding could not be developed overnight.

The captain said he had done everything he could to lead the side, even though his personal efforts might not be recognised after the defeat.

Mensah also defended the players who accepted their international call-ups despite the difficulties facing the squad. He noted that some established names had withdrawn because of injuries rather than a lack of commitment, but praised those who came in to represent their country.

At some point we should also appreciate them, he said. As captain, I am proud of them for not hiding and for coming out to play for Ghana.

He agreed that significant changes were needed, but said the team had plenty of talented players and that many were eager to play for the national side.

However, Mensah stressed that representing Ghana required more than ability or simply accepting a call-up and travelling to join the squad.

There is some urgency and some spirit we need to have when we play for Ghana, he said. In the end, we have a whole lot to learn.

Despite the defeats against The Gambia and Cote d'Ivoire, Mensah said he remained proud of the players because they had continued to make themselves available for Ghana, their families, communities and people.

The Black Stars appeared in control after goals from Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan put them 2-0 ahead. However, The Gambia fought back to claim victory, with Mensah involved in two of the visitors goals.

The left-back conceded a penalty after a rash challenge before a poor back pass allowed Ebrima Colley to score The Gambias third goal.

Mensah, who captained Ghana in the absence of several senior players, said he accepted his share of the blame and understood why the team would face criticism.

We have to accept that luck wasn't on our side and we probably didn't perform as we were supposed to perform, he said.

As a captain today, I feel like I will also take responsibility for everything that happened today. We are the players and we're supposed to accept whatever comes from the people that we play for.

He added: I think also take responsibility for everything that happened on the field today.

The result was Ghanas second consecutive defeat in Group C. They began their campaign with a 2-0 loss to Cote d'Ivoire in Bouake.

Mensah also said Ghanas difficulties had been increased by the number of newcomers in the side, explaining that players need time to understand the significance of representing the national team.

We can't hide from the fact that we had so many newcomers in the team, Mensah said.

When we talk about newcomers, it has to do with mentality; it has to do with the understanding that they didn't know about playing for Ghana, wearing the Ghana jersey.

He said adjusting to the expectations surrounding the Black Stars could not happen immediately.

This is not something that we can switch from overnight. It takes time for new players to learn that playing for Ghana comes with a whole lot, he explained.

You're playing for a country where everybody lives off football, and everybody's happy when Ghana wins the game.

Mensahs comments came after a difficult night for Ghana, who had looked set to take control of the match before their advantage disappeared. The defeat leaves them with two losses from their opening two Group C games, while the captain stressed that the squad must accept responsibility for its performance.

The Black Stars had appeared firmly in control at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday after taking a 2-0 lead. Ernest Nuamah converted a penalty before Felix Afena-Gyan doubled the advantage with a low finish, and Ghana looked capable of securing a convincing victory.

However, The Gambia reduced the deficit from the spot and then scored again before the interval. The two goals left the home side unsettled after what had been a dominant opening period.

This was one of those days when everything went wrong for our team. Especially in the first half after we were leading 2-0, Queiroz said.

We conceded two goals very easily, and those two goals turned the story of the game around.

At the moment we should have gone for an easy result in the second half, those two goals in the first half killed the morale and made my players nervous. That was one of the reasons we were not able to perform well in the second half.

The Portugal coach also defended his decisions in midfield and rejected suggestions that he had been unwilling to start inexperienced players.

Never in my life am I afraid to start a new player. Giving opportunities to players at 17, 18 years old has always been my benchmark, he said.

Queiroz praised the impact of Ibrahim Sulemana and Augustine Boakye, who were introduced from the bench and helped Ghana regain some forward momentum after the break.

I think Ibrahim came very well into the game, he had a good performance in the second half. He brought the team forward. I think Augustine brought the team forward as well, he said.

Boakye received his first national-team call-up under Queiroz for the World Cup, a decision that the coach said had surprised people at the time. His performance against The Gambia, however, showed why he deserved his place in the squad.

I called him for the first time to the national team for the World Cup. Everybody was surprised by that. Now you saw during the game, step by step, that he is a player who deserves to be here, Queiroz added.

The coach said he also had to manage his squad because several players, including Kojo Oppong Peprah, Kwasi Sibo and Ibrahim Sulemana, lacked match minutes. Ghana had begun the game with only two fit centre-backs.

We have the best players available to play this game. When some of our players are not on fresh legs, we have to make decisions to have solutions, Queiroz said.

Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan put Ghana in control in the first half, but two quick goals from The Gambia before the interval changed the game. Queiroz said the goals damaged his players confidence and left them nervous.

There is not much to say today after the terrible result for us, said the visibly disappointed coach. We are deeply sad with the result and we have to say sorry to our fans and supporters for what happened in the stadium.

The Portuguese insisted criticism should be directed at him rather than the players, who he said would still be responsible for securing qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

If there is one person who takes responsibility for the result, it is me, he said. If you want to blame and criticise, you can question me as the coach. Please keep supporting your players.

Queiroz also faced questions about calls for his resignation. He said stepping down would be the easiest response but would not address Ghanas wider football problems.

If you believe that with the coach resigning you can change the situation of football in Ghana, I will be the first one to resign, he said. I dont have that belief. But that is a decision for the board of the Federation.

The former Portugal manager added that the defeat did not make him a loser, pointing to his record for the most international wins in football. He said the result should instead make him more alert to the lessons that needed to be learned.

Queiroz blamed an unprecedented injury crisis for complicating his team selection, saying Ghana were missing 24 players from the national A team. He listed injuries affecting Antoine Semenyo, Alexander Djiku, Mumin and Marvin, while also managing players including Kojo, Sibo and Ibrahim, who were not fit enough to play 90 minutes.

He said Ghana had been forced to start with only two centre-backs, with a young substitute defender ill before kick-off. Adjetey was among those selected, while Augustine and Ibrahim made positive contributions after coming on.

Queiroz rejected suggestions he was reluctant to use inexperienced players, saying giving opportunities to 17- and 18-year-olds had always been part of his approach. He said Augustine, whom he first called up for the World Cup despite criticism, would improve with experience.

The defeat extended Ghanas winless run away from home in competitive matches to eight games. Queiroz said the problem did not begin with Tuesdays result and that several issues required review.

The Black Stars was never a problem. It is not a problem and it will never be a problem in the future, as far as we find the solutions to bring the team together, he said.

He again apologised to Ghanaian fans, while insisting the team had to prepare better, win its remaining matches and take responsibility for improving its situation.

The result leaves Carlos Queirozs side bottom of the group without a point from their opening two matches, while The Gambia move top with six points from two games.

Queiroz made three changes to the team beaten by Cote d'Ivoire. Benjamin Asare replaced Lawrence Ati-Zigi in goal, Jonas Adjetey came in for the injured Alexander Djiku and Felix Afena-Gyan was given a starting place instead of Christopher Bonsu Baah.

Ghana began with purpose and earned a penalty in the 18th minute. Abdul Fatawu Issahakus corner from the right reached Jerome Opoku, who was brought down inside the box.

Ernest Nuamah converted in the 27th minute, placing a composed finish into the bottom-right corner to put the hosts ahead.

Ghana doubled their advantage six minutes later when Afena-Gyan struck a low shot into the corner, giving the home side a commanding 2-0 lead.

The Gambia, playing without their star man Yankuba Minteh, responded before half-time. Mohammed Badamosi reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in the 37th minute.

The visitors then completed their comeback in the first half when Ebrima Colley found room inside the Ghanaian penalty area and sent the ball into the net to make it 2-2.

Although The Gambia emerged from the interval with renewed energy, Ghana made the first changes after the break. Benjamin Tetteh and Ibrahim Sulemana replaced Brandon Thomas-Asante and Kwasi Sibo.

The decisive shift came in the 71st minute, when a swift counter-attack exposed Ghanas defence. Badamosi finished the move to score his second goal of the match and put The Gambia 3-2 ahead, silencing the Accra crowd.

Queiroz attempted to restore momentum by introducing Augustine Boakye and Christopher Bonsu Baah for Kojo Peprah Oppong and Nuamah.

Ghana, however, were unable to produce clear opportunities as The Gambia defended deep and protected their lead.

The visitors completed a memorable win in the 88th minute. Colley scored his second goal of the evening to make it 4-2 and seal a major away victory.

The defeat leaves Ghana facing a difficult challenge in Group C, having lost both of their opening qualifiers. The Gambia, by contrast, have taken maximum points from their first two matches.

The Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeper is one of three changes made by Head Coach Carlos Queiroz for Tuesday afternoons fixture in Accra.

Jonas Adjetey replaces Alexander Djiku in defence, while Felix Afena-Gyan comes into the team in place of Christopher Bonsu Baah.

Asare is protected by a back four of Kojo Oppong Peprah, Gideon Mensah, Adjetey and Jerome Opoku.

Kwasi Sibo and Caleb Yirenkyi retain their positions in central midfield.

Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Afena-Gyan will operate on the wings, with Ernest Nuamah positioned behind striker Brandon Thomas-Asante.

The match is scheduled to begin at 4pm on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

The Black Stars made a poor start to Group C, losing 2-0 to Cote d'Ivoire in Bouake in their opening match. The result leaves Ghana under pressure to respond in front of their home supporters.

The Gambia, meanwhile, began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Somalia on Friday. The Scorpions have three points and are joint-top of the group alongside Cote d'Ivoire.

Ghana are attempting to return to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing the 2025 tournament in Morocco. Their immediate task is to avoid falling further behind in a group in which only two teams will qualify.

Coach Carlos Queiroz confirmed Ghana will be without captain Alexander Djiku, who was forced off in the 71st minute against Cote d'Ivoire before returning to his club, Spartak Moscow.

Ronald Donkor is the only other player whose availability remains uncertain. Queiroz said 22 players had trained normally and were ready for the match, with Donkor possibly fit enough to take a place on the bench.

The only player that is still in doubt is Ronald Donkor. We hope that he can at least be on the bench tomorrow to give his contribution. Otherwise, all the other players trained normally in good condition, in good shape and we are ready for the game, Queiroz said.

The Ghana coach expects his side to control possession and attack throughout the match. He also wants an improvement in front of goal after missed opportunities contributed to the defeat in Bouake.

We come from a lesson we learned in Ivory Coast. We always win or learn. The boys are ready with a lot of motivation. We have to have the ball with us, recover the ball, keep the ball, and play with a positive mind to score. If our defining moments get better, we're very close to winning.

Queiroz also called on supporters to back the squad selected for the game.

We only need the ones that come here to support the players that are here to perform. Those 22 players are the most important players of the Black Stars now.

The Gambia will be without Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, who sustained a contact injury to his right leg during pre-season. Musa Barrow, Abdoulie Manneh and Adama Sidibeh are also ruled out through injury.

Captain Omar Colley is expected to lead The Gambia in Accra as they seek to build on their opening victory and frustrate Ghana.

Kick-off is scheduled for 16:00 at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, 29 September 2026.

The squad returned to normal training following Sundays recovery session, held a day after their convincing 2-0 win over the Moroccan youngsters in the opening match of the two-game series.

Coach Kassim Ocansey and his technical staff increased the work rate during Mondays session, focusing on the players physical condition, tactical organisation and attacking development.

The team will be aiming to carry the confidence from their first victory into the second encounter. Hope Agbasi gave Ghana the lead in that match before Alidu Issah extended the advantage by converting a penalty.

With the next game approaching, the technical team will use the final stages of preparation to refine the sides approach and assess the players competing for places in the squad.

The Black Starlets will meet Morocco U17 on Wednesday in the second of the scheduled friendlies. The matches form part of Ghanas preparations for the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship.

That tournament will also serve as the qualifying competition for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ronald is the only doubt after Mondays final training session, although Queiroz hopes he will be fit enough to contribute from the bench.

All the other players trained normally, in good condition and in good shape, and we are ready for the game, said the coach.

Ghanas preparations have focused on improving their finishing after the lessons of their previous match in Ivory Coast.

We always win or learn, and we learned something in that game, Queiroz added. We focused especially on our finishing, to be more accurate and efficient in our attacking moments.

He urged local media and supporters to show confidence in the team, while acknowledging that the Black Stars are dealing with several challenges.

We are facing a couple of challenges, but Black Stars is not a problem, he said. Our duty as professionals is to solve problems. Black Stars was never a problem, is not a problem and will never be a problem.

Ghana missed the last Africa Cup of Nations, but Queiroz said the squad must focus on the present rather than fear the consequences of previous failures.

We dont win games with the past, but we also dont lose games with the past, he said. The past is important because it gives us the learning process that we need to progress.

The Portuguese coach said results ultimately determine his future, describing them as the god of football. He added that preparation, organisation, discipline and the will to improve were the principles guiding his work.

Queiroz also called on supporters attending Tuesdays match to back the players selected for the game rather than focus on those absent.

The most important players we have at this moment are the ones who are here, he said. If you come tomorrow, come to support them.

On his contract, Queiroz said his priority was serving Ghana rather than securing a specific term.

If Ghana football is happy with me, its not two, three, four years, it is 10 years, he said. Im not here for a contract. Im here to serve the Black Stars. One day, one year, 10 years, only God knows.

Queiroz said building a successful Ghana team would require consistency, a settled core and long-term investment. He pointed to the 44 years since Ghana won the Africa Cup of Nations and the countrys 2010 World Cup success, saying future progress could not be based on occasional qualification.

He said changing seven, eight or nine players at every call-up made it impossible to build champions, while clear communication between the Federation and players was essential.

Despite 23 injured players being lost from the main list, Queiroz said the squad had responded without excuses. He also called for investment in youth development, coach education and better pitches in Ghana, urging football authorities to spread their resources rather than put all the eggs in the same basket.

Against The Gambia, he said Ghana must retain possession, recover the ball quickly and attack positively. Queiroz remains confident after Ivory Coast, where Black Stars had the best open chances in a tight match.

If our defining moments get better, we are very close to winning, he said.

The tournament will be held from 1322 November 2026 in San Juan de los Lagos, with 24 national teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas taking part in the global competition.

The draw places Ghana in a group featuring teams from three continents and presents a demanding test for the reigning African champions. Angola are the other African representatives, while Colombia represent South America and Iraq represent Asia.

Angola will bring considerable World Cup experience to the group. They won the global title in 2018 in Mexico before finishing as runners-up in 2022.

Ghana enter the tournament after establishing a strong record in African competition. The Black Challenge won the African Amputee Football Championship in 2021, followed that success by taking gold at the inaugural African Para Games in Accra in 2023, and retained their continental title in Cairo in 2024.

They secured the 2024 championship by beating Morocco 21 in the final, a result which also confirmed Ghanas qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

The Ghana Football Association has restated its commitment to backing the team as it prepares for the tournament. That support will be provided in collaboration with the National Amputee Football Association of Ghana and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.

The GFA has also confirmed that Gold Fields Ghana Limited will support the Black Challenges preparations for the World Cup.

With the group-stage opponents now known, Ghanas focus will shift to completing preparations for the trip to Mexico. Those plans will include squad selection, camping, tactical work and logistical arrangements.

The Black Challenge will attempt to carry their success in Africa onto the international stage when they meet Angola, Colombia and Iraq in Group D.

The 2026 competition offers Ghana another opportunity to display the countrys amputee football talent and resilience, while increasing the profile of amputee football and para-sport in Ghana and beyond.

Group D WAFF Amputee Football World Cup 2026

- Angola - Colombia - Ghana - Iraq