Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has spoken emotionally about his time in charge of Colombia ahead of Ghana’s crucial Round of 32 clash against Los Cafeteros at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing his spell with the South American nation as one of the greatest honours of his coaching career despite the painful memories left by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Portuguese tactician will come face-to-face with several players he previously coached when Ghana take on Colombia in Kansas City, with a place in the Round of 16 at stake.
While much of the attention ahead of the knockout encounter has focused on tactics, team selection and Ghana’s hopes of upsetting one of the tournament favourites, Queiroz used his pre-match press conference to reflect on a deeply personal chapter of his managerial career.
The experienced coach, who managed Colombia between 2019 and 2020, said he still carries enormous respect and affection for the country, its football supporters and the players he worked with during a period unlike any other in modern football history.
His comments painted the picture of a coach who, despite now leading Ghana, still feels a strong emotional connection to Colombia and the people he met during his time there.
An honour to coach Colombia
Queiroz began by expressing gratitude for the opportunity he was given to lead one of South America’s traditional football powers.
Although his tenure ended amid difficult circumstances, he insisted that managing Colombia remains one of the proudest moments of his career.
“It was an honour to work in Colombia,” he said.
The Portuguese coach has managed some of the world’s biggest national teams, including Portugal, Iran and Egypt, as well as serving as assistant coach at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Despite that remarkable résumé, he made it clear that coaching Colombia remains an experience he values greatly. According to Queiroz, the players, supporters and football culture made his time in the country unforgettable.
A World Cup qualifying campaign unlike any other
Reflecting on his period in charge, Queiroz recalled the enormous disruption caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.
Like every national team around the world, Colombia struggled to prepare properly as international football was brought to a standstill.
Training sessions became unpredictable, travel restrictions complicated planning, and uncertainty surrounded every aspect of football.
The Ghana coach admitted that his team entered World Cup qualifying under extremely difficult conditions.
“I remember our World Cup qualification campaign. We were not ready to play; it was a difficult period and strange things happened every day during training and our preparations.” His remarks highlighted the unprecedented challenges coaches faced during the global pandemic.
Instead of focusing solely on football, technical staffs also had to deal with constantly changing health regulations, travel limitations and concerns over the wellbeing of players and staff. Queiroz acknowledged that the situation affected every part of Colombia’s preparations.
Remembering Eduardo Niño
The most emotional moment of Queiroz’s press conference came when he remembered former Colombia goalkeeping coach Eduardo Niño.
Niño passed away after contracting COVID-19 while in Bogotá, a tragedy that continues to affect Queiroz years later. The Portuguese manager spoke with visible emotion as he reflected on the loss of one of his closest colleagues.
“My coaching staff and I tried to do our best in a difficult situation,” he said.
“Our goalkeeping coach died from the effects of COVID. He was left alone in Bogota. He died alone and without support.”
The comments served as a painful reminder of the human cost of the pandemic, which affected millions of families across the world, including those within football. For Queiroz, the memory remains deeply personal.
Rather than focusing solely on football achievements, he chose to honour a colleague whose contribution to Colombian football he believes should never be forgotten.
Appeal to the Colombian Football Federation
Queiroz also used the occasion to call on the Colombian Football Federation to continue recognising Eduardo Niño’s legacy.
The Ghana coach believes more should be done to support the late goalkeeping coach’s family and ensure his contribution to Colombian football receives lasting recognition.
“Today I have the obligation to remember him and ask the federation to repair what happened with him and his family.”
The statement reflected Queiroz’s sense of responsibility toward people who worked alongside him during one of the most difficult periods in football history.
His appeal was not intended as criticism ahead of an important match but rather as a heartfelt request to honour someone he clearly respected greatly.
The comments added an emotional dimension to a press conference that was otherwise focused on preparations for Ghana’s biggest game of the tournament.
Now fully focused on Ghana
While Queiroz spent time reflecting on the past, he also made it clear that his attention is now firmly fixed on the future.
The Portuguese coach stressed that once the whistle blows in Kansas City, his only priority will be guiding Ghana into the Round of 16. The Black Stars enter the match after an encouraging group-stage campaign.
Ghana began the tournament with a disciplined 1-0 victory over Panama before producing an impressive defensive performance to earn a goalless draw against England.
Although the team suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Croatia in the final group game, qualification had already been secured thanks to earlier results and the expanded 48-team World Cup format. The knockout clash against Colombia therefore represents Ghana’s biggest challenge yet.
Facing familiar faces
One of the intriguing storylines surrounding the match is Queiroz’s familiarity with many members of the Colombian squad.
Having previously managed the national team, he understands the qualities, strengths and personalities of several players who could feature on Friday.
That knowledge could prove valuable as Ghana attempt to stop one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking teams. At the same time, Colombia’s players are equally familiar with Queiroz’s tactical philosophy.
Both sides therefore possess unique insights into one another, adding another fascinating layer to what is already expected to be one of the standout Round of 32 fixtures.
Colombia among the tournament favourites
Colombia arrive in Kansas City full of confidence after finishing top of Group K ahead of Portugal. Under head coach Néstor Lorenzo, Los Cafeteros have become one of the most balanced teams remaining in the competition.
Their combination of technical ability, physical strength and attacking quality has led many observers to rank them among the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy.
Even Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente recently praised Colombia, describing them as one of the strongest teams in the tournament. Those compliments underline the scale of the task awaiting Ghana.
However, Queiroz has repeatedly insisted throughout the tournament that the Black Stars fear no opponent and are prepared to compete against the very best teams in world football.
Ghana’s belief continues to grow
Since taking charge of the Black Stars, Queiroz has overseen a remarkable transformation. The Portuguese manager has built a disciplined and organised side capable of frustrating elite opposition while remaining dangerous on the counterattack.
Players such as Jonas Adjetey, Marvin Senaya, Jerome Opoku and Benjamin Asare have produced outstanding performances throughout the tournament, helping Ghana establish one of the strongest defensive records among the African representatives.
Captain Jordan Ayew has also repeatedly emphasised the unity within the squad, insisting that the defeat to Croatia has done little to damage the players’ confidence.
The Black Stars believe they have the quality to continue their World Cup journey despite facing one of the tournament’s most highly rated nations.
An emotional reunion with everything at stake
Friday’s encounter will therefore carry special significance for Carlos Queiroz. On one side stands Ghana, the team he is determined to guide into the last 16.
On the other stands Colombia, a nation that provided him with one of the most emotional periods of his coaching career.
Despite the emotional memories, Queiroz insists sentiment will play no role once the match begins. His respect for Colombia remains strong, but his commitment to Ghana is absolute.
With a place in the Round of 16 on the line, the Portuguese coach will hope his current players can write another memorable chapter in Ghana’s World Cup history.
Whatever the outcome, Queiroz’s heartfelt tribute to Eduardo Niño ensured that football’s biggest stage also became a moment to remember a respected colleague whose contribution to the game continues to live on.
As Ghana and Colombia prepare for battle in Kansas City, the occasion represents not only a meeting between two ambitious football nations but also a deeply personal reunion for a coach whose past and present will briefly collide on the road to World Cup glory.
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