Jerome Opoku Encouraged by Black Stars Display Against Wales
The Black Stars looked on course for victory in Cardiff after Caleb Yirenkyi’s second-half strike gave Ghana the lead. However, a late equaliser from Wales denied Queiroz a winning start in his first match since taking charge of the national team.
Despite the disappointing finish, Opoku was encouraged by the overall display, particularly given the limited preparation time available to the squad before the friendly.
“The key word is time, as the coach said,” he explained.
“Considering the amount of time we’ve had together, with new additions coming in, I was pleased we could put that performance out there. It shows that with more time, we can only get better as a team.”
The defender highlighted the challenge of integrating players who arrived in camp at different times, but felt the Black Stars showed enough quality and organisation to suggest brighter performances lie ahead.
Ghana absorbed early pressure from the hosts before growing into the game and creating the better opportunities after the break. The Black Stars were particularly dangerous on the counterattack and appeared set to leave Cardiff with a victory before conceding in stoppage time.
Reflecting on the performance, Opoku echoed the sentiments of his coach by suggesting Ghana deserved more from the contest.
“I thought it was a performance for us to be proud of,” Opoku said after the game.
“As the head coach said, we felt we should have won the game. It’s just the little details now, and something to build on given the short time we’ve worked together.”
The result offered several positives for Ghana as preparations continue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With Carlos Queiroz still in the early stages of his tenure, the performance against Wales provided encouraging signs that the players are beginning to adapt to his ideas.
The Black Stars will now turn their full attention to the tournament in North America, where they have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia. Ghana begin their campaign against Panama on June 17 as they seek to advance beyond the group stage.
