Ghana’s new assistant coach, Roger de Sa, revealed the serendipitous nature of his appointment, receiving a direct call from head coach Carlos Queiroz overnight to join the technical team for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. De Sa, a seasoned coach with extensive experience alongside Queiroz, accepted the challenging role after a brief discussion.
A Familiar Partnership
The 61-year-old South African brings a wealth of experience to the Black Stars, having previously worked with Queiroz across multiple national teams. Their professional relationship spans significant tournaments with the national teams of South Africa, Egypt, Portugal, and Iran.
Queiroz initiated contact with a message asking if De Sa was ready for another significant challenge. “I got the news overnight. I received a message from Carlos Queiroz basically asking me if I was up for a big challenge again, and he asked me to call him as soon as I woke up,” De Sa told SportsBoom.co.za.
Upon receiving the call, Queiroz informed De Sa that the Ghana national team had sought his services and that he required De Sa’s assistance. The decision to accept was straightforward for the experienced coach.
Personal Reflections and Motivation
De Sa shared that his wife was the first person he informed after confirming his potential new role. “Then, of course, having read the message very early hours of the morning, the first person I told was my wife, just to let her know that there would be a strong possibility that this would happen and that it was another World Cup and my seventh national team. I think she’s become pretty accustomed to this.”
He expressed his honor and privilege in joining another top national team for a World Cup campaign. “It’s always a great honour to be part of the fantastic national team in the World Cup once again. It is a privilege, and I enjoy every day and make the most of it.”
A Philosophy of Winning
Reflecting on his career, De Sa downplayed the pursuit of specific milestones, instead highlighting a consistent drive to win as his primary motivator. He acknowledged his unique status as a “triple international” and his involvement with seven national teams, having coached prominent players like Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo, and participating in two World Cups.
“As far as milestones are concerned, I know I’m a triple international and obviously being involved with seven national teams, and I’ve coached players like (Mo) Salah and Ronaldo and a couple of other big guys and having been to two World Cups,” he stated.
His career philosophy is rooted in daily success. “I’ve never had big dreams, to be honest with you, as a kid. It was always to just win every day, win every match, win every training session and try to win every competition. It has been about just having that type of mentality all the time and trying to do the best I can in every single moment. That’s how it’s been throughout my career and life.”
Looking Ahead
De Sa’s appointment signifies a strengthening of Ghana’s technical bench as they prepare for the demanding World Cup qualifiers. The established rapport between De Sa and Queiroz is expected to provide stability and tactical acumen. Fans will be watching to see how this experienced duo guides the Black Stars through their qualification campaign and if their shared philosophy of relentless winning translates into success on the field.
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