Carlos Queiroz's tenure as coach of Ghana's Black Stars ended in October 2026, after a six-month stint that saw the team participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the opening fixtures of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Despite overseeing these major competitions, Queiroz never had the opportunity to field several key players, including Mohammed Kudus, a crucial figure for both Ghana and his club, Tottenham Hotspur.
Mohammed Kudus, Ghana's talisman, missed the entirety of Ghana's World Cup campaign due to a serious quad injury that ruled him out for seven months. By the time he had returned to action for Tottenham and was named in Queiroz's September squad, he chose to sit out the AFCON qualifiers to protect his recovery and build back full match fitness. This decision meant that Queiroz never got to utilize Kudus's skills in a competitive match.
Kudus was not the only notable Black Stars player who never featured under Queiroz. Other key players, including Monaco defender Mohammed Salisu, who missed the World Cup through injury and had not recovered in time to play before the coach left, were also absent. LA Galaxy winger Joseph Paintsil was left out of Queiroz's World Cup plans entirely, while Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey, whose last Ghana appearance came in 2024, was only a non-playing squad member for the September 2025 qualifiers.
Former captain André Ayew, already sidelined from the squad under previous coach Otto Addo, was likewise omitted from Queiroz's final 26-man World Cup list despite debate over whether his experience could have helped the team. The absence of these players, particularly Kudus and Salisu, has been cited as a contributing factor to the team's underwhelming performance under Queiroz.
With Queiroz's exit, the Ghana Football Association has begun the process of finding a new coach. Former Black Stars winger Laryea Kingston has joined the race for the vacant job, while Queiroz himself is reportedly closing in on a new role with Bahrain. The GFA's recruitment process has not been without controversy, with former Black Stars goalkeeper Fatau Dauda turning down a seat on the GFA's search panel.
The five-member panel tasked with identifying Queiroz's successor is due to report its findings by 9 October 2026. The next coach will inherit a squad where several of the country's most important players, including Kudus and Salisu, are only now returning to fitness. This presents a challenge for the new coach, who will need to integrate these key players into the team effectively.
The absence of players like Kudus and Salisu from Queiroz's squads has been cited as a key factor in the team's disappointing run, which ultimately cost him his job. As the AFCON qualifying campaign continues, the new coach will face the task of getting the team back on track and making the most of Ghana's talented squad.
Key points
- Carlos Queiroz never fielded Mohammed Kudus in a competitive match during his six months as Black Stars coach.
- Several key players, including Kudus, Salisu, Paintsil, Lamptey, and Ayew, never featured under Queiroz.
- The Ghana Football Association is currently searching for a new coach to replace Queiroz.
