Carlos Queiroz kicked off his tenure as Black Stars head coach with a dramatic 1-1 draw, as Ghana and Wales battled under the floodlights in a spirited international friendly on Tuesday night, sharpening their blades for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The veteran Portuguese coach, appointed by the Ghana Football Association in April following the departure of Otto Addo, took charge of the national team for the first time at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales burst out of the gates, threatening early and carving out two golden chances within the first 15 minutes. Yet, Lawrence Ati-Zigi stood tall in goal, pulling off two stunning saves to keep the hosts at bay.

Thanks to the heroics of Ghana’s shot-stopper, the Black Stars held firm, frustrating Wales as they pressed to turn their early dominance into a lead.

Weathering the early storm, Ghana slowly found its rhythm, gaining confidence and control as the first half wore on. The Black Stars settled in, keeping the Welsh attack at arm’s length until the break.

With neither side able to find the breakthrough, the teams went into halftime locked at 0-0.

Queiroz shuffled his deck in the second half, and the fresh legs paid off when Ghana broke the deadlock in the 66th minute.

Caleb Yirenkyi, barely on the pitch, made an immediate impact by slotting home from close range after a dazzling run and cross by Ernest Nuamah, putting the Black Stars ahead.

The goal shifted the tide in Ghana’s favor, and the visitors seemed poised to deliver Queiroz a dream start at the helm.

But Wales had the last word deep into stoppage time, as Lewis Koumas soared above the defense to nod in the equalizer, snatching victory from Ghana’s grasp and sealing a dramatic draw.

Despite the late heartbreak, Queiroz could take heart from a spirited display, offering plenty of promise as he shapes his squad for the World Cup adventure in North America.