Carlos Queiroz, the Portuguese coach, submitted his resignation letter on September 30, before meeting with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for a formal debrief. During the meeting, Queiroz expressed his concerns about the conditions, describing them as inadequate for him to effectively carry out his duties. He raised several issues, including the team's training setup, which he found unsatisfactory.
One of the major concerns Queiroz had was the team's training setup. He was surprised to learn that the Black Stars held their daily training sessions at the same stadium where matches were to be played, rather than at a separate training ground. Additionally, Queiroz had a logistical problem with his arrival timeline, as he prefers to arrive in the host country around 10 days before the squad assembles, but he only arrived two days before camp opened due to flight ticket issues.
Accommodation arrangements also fell short of Queiroz's expectations. He had wanted the team to be housed at the Kempinski hotel but was instead placed at African Regent. The Alisa Hotel was reportedly not considered due to outstanding debts owed from previous national team stays. These logistical issues, combined with his concerns about team management, contributed to his decision to resign.
Beyond logistics, Queiroz expressed discomfort over what he perceived as outside influence on squad selection. He reportedly told close associates that certain players appeared in camp without his prior knowledge, which may have informed his public remarks about the importance of "honesty" in team selection. Queiroz also sought broader authority over his technical support staff.
According to Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo, a sports journalist, Queiroz's short return to the Black Stars ended after just 29 days, with concerns over team management and logistical issues reportedly contributing to his departure. During his two short spells with Ghana, Queiroz managed the team in seven matches, recording just one win, two draws, and four defeats.
The Portuguese coach's departure has raised questions about the team's performance under his leadership. Ghana has won 39.3% of its competitive matches under Kurt Okraku, the lowest rate among the seven GFA administrations studied. The Black Stars have averaged 1.46 points per game under Okraku, compared to 1.87 points under Kwesi Nyantakyi across 101 competitive matches.
Queiroz's resignation has significant implications for the Black Stars, as they look to move forward under new leadership. The GFA will need to address the concerns raised by Queiroz and work to improve the team's performance in future matches. The team's management and logistical issues will need to be resolved to ensure a smooth transition.
Key points
- Carlos Queiroz resigned as Ghana coach due to inadequate conditions and logistical issues.
- Queiroz had concerns about team management, including outside influence on squad selection.
- The Portuguese coach managed Ghana in seven matches, recording just one win, two draws, and four defeats.
