Defending deep won't help Ghana - Laryea Kingston sends clear message to Queiroz

Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston believes Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz must move away from the defensive tactics that defined Ghana's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign and embrace a more attacking philosophy if the national team is to compete for major honours again.

While the former winger praised the Portuguese coach for guiding Ghana to the Round of 32 under difficult circumstances, he insisted the conservative style adopted at the tournament should only have been a short-term solution.

Speaking to 3Sports, Kingston said Queiroz deserves credit for stabilising the Black Stars after taking charge just 72 days before the World Cup following Otto Addo's departure.

"For me, Carlos did very well. His approach helped us because he was new and didn't know the team very well. His biggest strength is his defensive organisation. If you don't know a team well and try to make them attack immediately, you become vulnerable," Kingston said.

However, the former Hearts of Oak midfielder warned that Ghana cannot continue to rely on deep defending if the team wants to challenge the best nations consistently.

"What we saw at the World Cup won't help us going forward if we continue to defend deep all the time because football has changed," he stated.

Kingston believes Queiroz has the tactical ability to build a more expansive team but needs time to fully implement his ideas.

"Carlos has an attacking side to his football as well. If we give him two years, we should see that side of him."

"When appointing a coach for Ghana, we must consider the type of players we have. Ghanaian players like to express themselves with the ball, so Carlos should adapt his approach," he added.

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