Carlos Queiroz set for fifth straight World Cup with Ghana, calling it his greatest challenge | OneFootball

Carlos Queiroz, 73, will lead Ghana at his fifth consecutive World Cup, matching Velibor ‘Bora’ Milutinovic’s record. According to L'Équipe, the Portuguese was appointed two months ago after Otto Addo was dismissed.

He took Portugal to South Africa 2010, then guided Iran at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 finals. After failing to qualify Oman for this edition, he had not expected another chance.

He will not be the oldest coach, as Dick Advocaat, 78, set that mark on Sunday with Curaçao. Milutinovic is the only other manager to reach five in a row, doing so with Mexico, Costa Rica, United States, Nigeria and China.

Hervé Renard had also been considered while still in charge of Saudi Arabia. Queiroz calls the Ghana job the biggest test of his career, saying football has given him challenges and lessons and that he accepts this mission with the same passion and commitment.

Ghana, quarter-finalists in 2010, are at their fifth World Cup too. The squad is weakened by the absences of Alexander Djiku, Mohammed Salisu and Mohammed Kudus, while André Ayew, 36, was not selected. Queiroz had only one friendly to assess his group, a 1-1 draw with Wales on 2 June, and he did not risk Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo.

The opener against Panama looks a step into the unknown and could be decisive in keeping alive hopes of the round of 32. That outcome would be his second-best return, behind the last 16 with Portugal in 2010, a 1-0 defeat to Spain. He was then sacked by the Selecao and banned for six months by Portugal’s anti-doping authority for disrupting a test.

Source: L'Équipe