The Black Stars led The Gambia 2-0 in Accra before conceding twice before half-time, and coach Carlos Queiroz says that spell decided the match.
Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz says two goals conceded in quick succession before half-time, after his side had built a two-goal lead, are what cost the Black Stars in their 4-2 loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The match was a qualifier for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the continent's biggest national team tournament.
How the game slipped away
Ghana started well. Ernest Nuamah put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot, and Felix Afena-Gyan added a second with a low finish to make it 2-0.
The Gambia then got a penalty of their own, converted it, and added an equaliser before the half-time whistle. The visitors went on to win 4-2.
Speaking after the game in comments reported by Daily Guide Network, the Portuguese coach said the two first-half goals were given away too cheaply and turned the match on its head.
"We conceded two goals very easily, and those two goals turned the story of the game around," Queiroz said.
He added that the setback hurt his players mentally going into the break. According to him, the goals "killed the morale" and left the squad nervous at a point when they should have been managing a comfortable result in the second half.
Defending his selections
Queiroz was also asked about his decision to field inexperienced players. He pushed back firmly, saying trusting young footballers has been part of his approach throughout his career.
"Never in my life am I afraid to start a new player," he said, adding that handing chances to players aged 17 and 18 has always been his standard.
He singled out two substitutes for praise. Ibrahim Sulemana and Augustine Boakye both made an impact after coming on, and Boakye was earning his first senior national team call-up under Queiroz. The coach said Boakye is a player who deserves to be in the squad and is improving gradually.
Fitness problems behind the scenes
Queiroz also pointed to fitness issues in the camp. He said several players, including Kojo Oppong Peprah, Kwasi Sibo and Sulemana, were short of match sharpness, which forced him to manage his substitutions carefully.
He noted that Ghana began the match with only two fully fit centre-backs available, a thin margin for any team at international level.
What it means
A home defeat in a qualifying campaign is costly, because points dropped in Accra are the hardest to recover away from home. For Ghanaians following from the United States and elsewhere abroad, the result raises familiar questions about defensive organisation and squad depth that the Black Stars will need to answer in the remaining qualifiers.
The source report did not give details of Ghana's next fixture in the campaign.
