The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has extended a special invitation to Carlos Queiroz to attend its upcoming Strategy Conference in Cape Verde, scheduled for October 7 to 9. The conference will bring together coaches from Africa's 10 representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Queiroz's invitation comes after Ghana parted ways with him on October 1, following defeats to Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia.
Carlos Queiroz, the 73-year-old Portuguese tactician, is expected to speak at the three-day event in Santa Maria, Sal Island. He will be joined by senior football officials and technical experts from across the continent. The conference is centred on extracting lessons from Africa's showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and shaping discussions on continental football development and sustainability ahead of the 2030 tournament.
The CAF Strategy Conference represents a platform for African football's leading voices to evaluate what worked, what did not, and how the continent can become more competitive at the highest level of the game. Queiroz had originally been expected to attend as Ghana's head coach, given that he guided the Black Stars through their 2026 World Cup campaign. However, his relationship with the Ghana Football Association broke down, leading to his departure.
Ghana announced the termination of Queiroz's contract on October 1, bringing his second stint in charge of the Black Stars to an abrupt end after just 29 days. The decision followed a damaging start to Ghana's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with the team suffering back-to-back defeats against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia.
Despite the short and turbulent nature of his second appointment, CAF's invitation suggests the governing body still regards him as a relevant voice in broader discussions about African football's direction. His continued involvement at the Cape Verde conference means Queiroz retains a role in shaping the continent's footballing future, even without a national team post.
Walid Regragui has emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace Carlos Queiroz as Black Stars coach. The Ghana Football Association and the government are expected to weigh their options as they search for a new coach, with the Moroccan reportedly among the names under consideration.
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe, a CAF-accredited journalist, reported that Queiroz's invitation to the CAF Strategy Conference is a significant development in African football. As a seasoned journalist with over five years of experience in digital journalism, Tagoe has covered several high-profile events, including the 2023 AFCON and grassroots competitions within Ghana.
Key points
- Carlos Queiroz receives special invitation to CAF Strategy Conference in Cape Verde
- Queiroz's invitation comes after Ghana parted ways with him on October 1
- The conference will bring together coaches from Africa's 10 representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
