Roger de Sa reveals Ghana’s World Cup story: Preparation struggles, VAR drama and working with Carlos Queiroz

South African coach Roger de Sa has opened up about Ghana’s challenging build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, revealing the behind-the-scenes difficulties that shaped the team’s campaign.

De Sa played a key role as assistant coach to Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz, helping prepare the squad for football’s biggest tournament despite a difficult starting point and limited time together.

In an exclusive interview with Flashscore, De Sa discussed the frantic preparations before the tournament, his relationship with Queiroz, the challenges of squad selection, and why Ghana ultimately viewed their World Cup performance as a “satisfactory” achievement.

“My role is to assist Carlos with everything”

De Sa explained that his role with the Ghana national team is similar to the positions he has previously held alongside Queiroz with other international sides, including South Africa, Portugal, Egypt, Iran and Qatar.

“My title is first-team coach, and my role is to assist Carlos with just about everything. It is no different from the work I have done with him at other national teams.”

The South African coach described the tournament as another memorable chapter in his career, praising the quality and attitude of the Ghana squad.

“We worked with a different type of player, but they were excellent footballers and good people to work with. It was another great chapter in my career.”

A memorable World Cup experience

De Sa was full of praise for the organisation of the United States, Mexico and Canada World Cup, describing the tournament as a hugely positive experience despite some minor issues.

“I thought it was a very successful World Cup. There were a few issues here and there, but overall it was fantastic.”

One of the biggest impressions left on him was the attitude of the Ghana players.

The coach highlighted the humility and willingness to improve shown by both experienced stars and younger members of the squad.

“Their humility stood out. They were willing to work, learn and give 100% every day.”

Ghana needed a fresh start

When Queiroz and his coaching staff arrived, they inherited a team struggling for confidence after a difficult run of results.

Ghana had lost six consecutive matches, creating a major challenge ahead of their World Cup campaign.

“That was the challenge. Ghana have enjoyed success in the past and are expected to produce results, so morale was understandably low.”

De Sa explained that restoring belief was one of their biggest priorities.

“We needed to make changes and do things differently to show that we meant business, believed in the players and could give them hope.”

A chaotic preparation period

One of the biggest obstacles was the lack of time available before the tournament.

The coaching staff had only around 10 days with the squad, meaning much of the preparation had to happen away from the training pitch.

De Sa revealed he travelled extensively across Europe to scout players, meet with them and analyse their performances at club level.

“I visited about 24 cities in four weeks, which involved some crazy travelling.”

With Queiroz unable to travel due to a medical procedure, De Sa handled much of the scouting responsibility himself.

Major injuries created selection problems

Ghana also entered the tournament without several important players.

The squad was missing four regular contributors, including both first-choice centre-backs, a winger from Tottenham Hotspur, Mohammed Kudus, and a midfielder.

The defensive absences created particular concern due to the lack of experience available in those positions.

“The absence of the centre-backs was particularly concerning because it meant using younger, less experienced players.”

De Sa also explained the difficulties involved in monitoring players who were not guaranteed regular minutes at their clubs.

“You could travel to another city to watch a player, take your seat in the stadium and then find that he was on the bench.”

Wales friendly provided valuable lessons

Ghana’s preparation included a friendly against Wales, although the squad arrived at different times due to players finishing their domestic seasons.

One example was Antoine Semenyo, who needed additional recovery time after appearing in a cup final with Manchester City.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Ghana conceding late after leading for much of the contest.

Despite the result, De Sa believed the match was useful for testing tactics and understanding player combinations.

“It was still a useful exercise because we learned more about the players and tested different partnerships and formations.”

However, he admitted Ghana would have benefited from more preparation time and another warm-up fixture.

Panama victory was the turning point

Ghana identified their opening match against Panama as the most important fixture of the group stage.

With England and Croatia also in the group, De Sa explained that winning the first game was viewed as essential.

“We always regarded the opening game against Panama as our cup final.”

A narrow 1-0 victory gave the squad confidence and reduced the pressure surrounding the team.

“That result relieved some pressure and gave us the belief that we could qualify for the second round.”

VAR controversy against England

Ghana followed up with an impressive defensive performance against England, earning a goalless draw and coming close to securing a famous victory.

De Sa believes his side deserved more from the match and pointed towards a controversial VAR decision.

“If VAR had not gone for coffee, we probably would have received a penalty. I think even Stevie Wonder would have given it.”

A satisfactory World Cup campaign

Although Ghana ended the tournament with defeats against Croatia and Colombia, De Sa believes the overall performance should be viewed positively considering the circumstances.

“Considering the players we had available and the limited preparation time, I felt it was a satisfactory performance overall.”

Working with Carlos Queiroz

De Sa reserved his biggest praise for Carlos Queiroz, describing the experienced coach as one of football’s most dedicated thinkers.

“Carlos has an unbelievable engine and a remarkable mind for the game.”

According to De Sa, Queiroz’s attention to detail and constant tactical planning are key reasons behind his long career at the highest level.

“He is always thinking about what could happen, what might happen and what will happen.”

Even at 72 years old, De Sa believes Queiroz’s energy remains remarkable.

“His energy is unbelievable, and he is also in very good physical shape.”

For De Sa, the Ghana World Cup experience was another example of the demands, challenges and rewards that come with international football at the highest level.