Ghana’s performance in their draw against Wales offers early encouragement under new head coach Carlos Queiroz, but significant tactical and defensive issues remain, sports analyst Kojo Addae-Mensah has said.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (3 June), Addae-Mensah described the team’s display as “very encouraging,” noting improved structure and adherence to tactical instructions.

“You could clearly see that the team played to instructions,” he said, adding that the players responded positively to the new coach’s approach.

However, he cautioned that part of the performance could be attributed to the “new manager bounce,” a common phenomenon where teams temporarily improve following a coaching change.

Addae-Mensah said Ghana’s approach against Wales—allowing long spells of possession—was deliberate and reflects Queiroz’s pragmatic style.

“He’s going to allow the opposition to have the ball… and use transition play to get goals,” he explained, warning that the same approach will likely be used against stronger teams such as England.

Despite the positives, he raised concerns about defensive vulnerabilities, particularly the tendency to concede dangerous free kicks near the penalty area.

“If you give players like Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham or Harry Kane those set pieces, they will punish you,” he warned.

He also highlighted Ghana’s recurring issue of conceding late goals, describing it as a “big source of concern” that must be urgently addressed before the World Cup.

“A game is 90 minutes plus added time… we keep conceding after the 70th minute,” he said.

While the result ended a run of poor performances, Addae-Mensah stressed that more work is needed, particularly in defence and midfield discipline, ahead of Ghana’s next fixtures.