Ghana will be without head coach Carlos Queiroz for Friday’s international friendly against Mexico, with assistant Ofei taking charge after the Ghana Football Association confirmed the Portuguese manager would miss the match for personal reasons.
The game, which is scheduled to take place in Puebla, forms part of Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will instead be overseen by assistant coach Desmond Ofei.
In a statement released by the Ghana Football Association, the federation said Ofei would serve as interim head coach for the fixture while Queiroz remains unavailable.
Ofei has already been involved in the Black Stars’ preparations following the team’s arrival in Mexico and will now officially take charge for the high-profile encounter.
He will be assisted by goalkeeping coach Daniel Gaspar as well as video analyst and set-piece specialist Gregory De Grauwe.
The Ghana Football Association stressed that the arrangement is temporary and linked solely to the absence of the head coach.
The friendly against Mexico represents an important stage in Ghana’s build-up to the World Cup, which begins on 11 June.
The Black Stars have been drawn into a challenging group that includes Panama, England and Croatia, with preparations intensifying ahead of the tournament.
Friday’s match is expected to provide the technical staff with another opportunity to assess players before the announcement of Ghana’s final 26-man World Cup squad.
The encounter in Puebla will also allow Ofei and the coaching team to continue refining tactical plans as Ghana prepare to face elite international opposition at the tournament.
Ofei’s temporary appointment comes at a significant moment for the Black Stars, who are seeking to build momentum and cohesion ahead of the competition.
Although Queiroz will not be present on the touchline, the coaching structure already working with the squad in Mexico is expected to ensure continuity during preparations.
The Ghana Football Association’s announcement has placed additional focus on Ofei, who now takes responsibility for leading one of Africa’s most recognised national teams in a key pre-tournament fixture.
Mexico are expected to provide a stern test for Ghana as both sides continue their final preparations before travelling to the World Cup.
For Ghana, the match also carries added importance because of the competition for places within the squad. With the final selection still to be confirmed, players will be eager to impress the technical team during one of the last opportunities before the tournament begins.
The Black Stars are aiming to arrive at the World Cup fully prepared despite the temporary absence of their head coach, and Friday’s friendly will offer another indication of the team’s readiness ahead of the global finals in North America.
