Queiroz was appointed shortly before the tournament following the departure of Otto Addo, with expectations rising that his vast international experience could help reshape Ghana’s fortunes on the global stage.
Desailly believes the Portuguese coach’s arrival brings a new level of discipline and structure to the team.
While acknowledging Addo’s contributions, the former France captain suggested that inconsistent results in recent friendly matches ultimately influenced the decision to make a change.
“I love the previous coach (Otto Addo). He was unlucky that they did not perform during the friendlies. But I believe that Queiroz will bring his own touch into the system. I talk about the system,” Desailly said.
Desailly went on to highlight what he sees as a broader challenge in African football, particularly around squad management and player hierarchy. He believes Queiroz’s reputation will allow him to make tough decisions without external interference.
“In Ghana and many other countries, the system is that sometimes the coach has to adapt to what the management and administration are telling him, you see?” he added.
“So Queiroz will deal with his own sensibility. He knows about football. He has experience in football. He has real experience in European football over the years. So he will kill a little bit of the egos. In Africa, we have a problem with the egos. The older players that are in the team, who are no longer performing, but they are still there, and you cannot move them out.”
Despite Ghana’s recent setback in failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, Desailly remains optimistic that the Black Stars can rediscover their identity under Queiroz’s leadership and emerge as one of the surprise teams of the tournament.
“So Ghana could be one of the surprises if they start very well with the confidence and a good philosophy from Queiroz, and kill all the things that I’ve said before: the egos and the older player problems, those who are in the system that sometimes delay the development of others,” he noted.
Ghana will begin their World Cup journey against Panama on June 17, before facing England and Croatia in a demanding Group L campaign. With matches spread across Toronto, Boston, and Philadelphia, the Black Stars will need to adapt quickly if they hope to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since 2010.
