Black Stars must build a team, not rely on talent – Daniel Opare

Former Ghana national football team defender Daniel Opare has called on the team’s technical handlers to prioritize building a cohesive and stable squad rather than relying heavily on individual brilliance as they prepare for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The Black Stars are gearing up for their fifth appearance at the global tournament, with hopes of progressing beyond the group stage for the first time since their historic run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where they reached the quarterfinals.

Ghana has been drawn in a challenging Group L, where they will face strong competition from England national football team, Croatia national football team, and Panama national football team. The group is widely considered competitive, requiring both tactical discipline and strong team chemistry for Ghana to advance.

Despite the excitement surrounding the tournament, the team heads into the competition on the back of four consecutive defeats, a run of poor results that led to the dismissal of head coach Otto Addo. In response, the Ghana Football Association appointed experienced Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz, who takes over the role at the age of 73.

Speaking in an interview with JoySports, Opare acknowledged the abundance of talent within the squad but stressed that talent alone is not enough to achieve success at the highest level of international football.

“We have talents in the team, incredible ones, but I think we need to build a team,” he said. He explained that while individual quality can win matches, long-term success depends on consistency, understanding among players, and a stable core group that plays together over time.

Opare further advised against frequent changes to the squad, warning that constant rotation of players could hinder the development of team chemistry. According to him, maintaining a consistent group of players—only making changes when necessary, such as in cases of injury—would help build cohesion and improve performance on the pitch.

“If we keep changing players like the way we change our dresses, then it will not help,” he added, emphasizing the importance of continuity in squad selection.

Meanwhile, Coach Queiroz faces a tight schedule as he works to finalize his squad for the tournament. He has until June 1 to submit the official list of players who will represent Ghana at the expanded 48-team World Cup.

As part of his preparation, Queiroz has been actively scouting talent both locally and internationally. He recently observed friendly matches involving home-based players in Ghana and is currently in Europe monitoring potential additions to the squad. His approach signals an effort to blend local and foreign-based players into a balanced and competitive team.

With expectations high and time limited, the focus now remains on whether the new technical direction can stabilize the team, improve results, and help the Black Stars make a significant impact on the world stage.