Carlos Queiroz has left his position as head coach of Ghana’s senior national football team, the Black Stars, after the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Portuguese coach mutually agreed to terminate their working relationship.
The decision was announced on Thursday, October 1, 2026, following Ghana’s difficult opening to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. The GFA and Queiroz reached the agreement after discussions held in what was described as a spirit of mutual respect.
Queiroz’s departure comes just two days after the Black Stars suffered a 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia in their second Group C qualifying match.
The result followed an earlier 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire, leaving Ghana without a point from its opening two matches of the AFCON qualifying campaign. The Black Stars are in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia.
Queiroz initially took charge of the Black Stars in April 2026 on a short-term arrangement designed to cover Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Under his leadership, Ghana progressed to the last 32 of the tournament before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Colombia. Following the World Cup, Queiroz stepped down but was subsequently reappointed to guide the team into the next phase of its programme.
His return included responsibility for the September international window and the opening matches of the AFCON qualifiers. However, defeats against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia ended his second spell after only two competitive matches.
In his statement confirming the separation, Queiroz said the decision was not easy but that both sides had concluded that ending the professional relationship was appropriate under the circumstances.
He thanked the GFA leadership, his technical staff and the players for their support during his time with the national team.
The Portuguese coach also urged Ghanaians to continue supporting the Black Stars players, saying the team has talent and potential that can contribute to Ghanaian football.
Queiroz’s exit leaves the Black Stars without a permanent head coach ahead of their next AFCON qualifying assignments against Somalia in November. The GFA had not announced a replacement or confirmed whether an interim coach would take charge at the time of the announcement.
The immediate focus will now shift to Ghana’s preparations for the next qualifying window as the team seeks to recover from its opening defeats and strengthen its position in Group C.
Source: Thepressradio.com
