Yirenkyi scores but Ghana held to draw in Queiroz’s debut

Caleb Yirenkyi scored his first international goal, but Ghana’s Black Stars were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Wales on Tuesday, as Carlos Queiroz took charge of his first match since being appointed head coach.

The result ends a run of four consecutive defeats for Ghana and provides a measured start to Queiroz’s tenure as the team intensifies preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Wales dominated large portions of the first half and came close to breaking the deadlock on multiple occasions. Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi was called into action early, producing a brilliant save to tip Dan James’ header onto the post in the 11th minute. Three minutes later, James rattled the crossbar with a powerful volley as the hosts piled on the pressure.

Despite Wales’ early control, Ghana nearly took the lead midway through the half. Jordan Ayew intercepted a misplaced pass from Welsh goalkeeper Karl Darlow, but a heavy first touch forced the Black Stars captain wide, allowing Darlow to recover.

The visitors also survived a contentious moment before the break when Thomas Partey, already on a yellow card, escaped a second booking for a foul on David Brooks. The midfielder was substituted at half-time.

Queiroz made several changes after the restart, introducing Benjamin Asare, Kwasi Sibo, Ernest Nuamah, and Brandon Thomas-Asante. The adjustments injected fresh energy into Ghana’s attack, and the breakthrough arrived in the 66th minute.

Nuamah, making an impressive return after nearly a year sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, burst through the Welsh defence. His initial shot was saved by Darlow, but Yirenkyi reacted quickest to the rebound. The forward struck the post with his first attempt before calmly firing home to give Ghana a 1-0 lead.

Wales pushed relentlessly for an equaliser and nearly benefited from an own goal when Gideon Mensah’s attempted clearance looped just wide of his own net. The hosts’ pressure finally paid off deep into stoppage time. In the 93rd minute, Neco Williams delivered an inviting cross, and substitute Lewis Koumas guided a header into the corner to make it 1-1.

The draw marks Ghana’s first positive result since October 2025. Queiroz will take further encouragement from the performance of Nuamah, who looked sharp despite limited club minutes this season following his lengthy injury layoff.

The Black Stars are scheduled to face Jamaica on June 10 in their final warm-up match before opening their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17. Ghana have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama as they aim to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 2010.

---