Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, will be without head coach Carlos Queiroz following a mutual agreement to terminate his contract. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed the development, citing the team's disappointing start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Queiroz, 74, had been in charge since April 2026, guiding the team to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 2010.
The decision to part ways was made after Ghana lost their opening two Group C matches against Ivory Coast and The Gambia. The Black Stars began their campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast in Bouake, followed by a 4-2 loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. These back-to-back defeats increased pressure on Queiroz and his technical team, with many calling for his dismissal.
In a statement released by the GFA, Queiroz expressed his gratitude to the association, its president Kurt Okraku, his technical staff, and the players for their support during his tenure. He emphasized that the decision to end his contract was made with the interests of Ghana, the Black Stars, and Ghanaian football in mind. Queiroz also urged Ghanaians to continue supporting the players despite recent struggles.
Queiroz highlighted the potential of the current team, encouraging Ghanaians to believe in and protect the players. He emphasized that with unity, support, and the right environment, this generation can achieve great things for Ghana. The Portuguese coach was appointed on a short-term contract in April 2026 to lead Ghana into the 2026 World Cup, replacing Otto Addo.
Under Queiroz's leadership, the Black Stars reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 2010. However, the team's poor start to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers has led to his departure. Ghana currently has no points after two matches in Group C and faces the prospect of missing the Africa Cup of Nations for a second successive edition.
The GFA is expected to announce details of interim coaching arrangements in the coming days. The association will need to act quickly to find a suitable replacement to help the team turn their qualifying campaign around. Ghana's next match will be crucial in determining their chances of advancing to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The sudden departure of Queiroz raises questions about the team's future prospects. The Black Stars have struggled to find consistency in recent years, and the GFA will need to find a coach who can help the team stabilize and achieve success. For now, the focus will be on finding an interim coach to lead the team through the remainder of the qualifying campaign.
Key points
- Carlos Queiroz leaves as Ghana Black Stars coach after poor AFCON qualifying start
- Ghana loses opening two Group C matches against Ivory Coast and The Gambia
- GFA to announce interim coaching arrangements in coming days
