The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has extended an invitation to Carlos Queiroz, the former head coach of Ghana's Black Stars, to participate in its Strategy Conference in Cape Verde. The conference, scheduled to take place from October 7 to 9, 2026, in Santa Maria on Sal Island, will bring together national team coaches, football administrators, and international experts. They will review African teams' performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and strategize for the 2030 tournament.
Queiroz will share his expertise alongside prominent figures in football, including FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi, and former Cape Verde head coach Pedro Brito. Other notable speakers at the conference include Egypt's Hossam Hassan and DR Congo's Sébastien Desabre. This invitation comes just weeks after Ghana parted ways with Queiroz amid a coaching crisis.
The timing of Queiroz's invitation is significant, given Ghana's current coaching vacancy and the team's struggles, including back-to-back qualifying defeats to Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is under scrutiny, with Sports Minister Kofi Adams emphasizing that appointing a new Black Stars coach is the GFA's responsibility, not the government's.
Ghana's football landscape is experiencing a period of reckoning, with GFA president Kurt Okraku's leadership facing fresh scrutiny. Ghana's first absence from the Africa Cup of Nations in 24 years has raised questions about Okraku's ability to remain in charge. Many Ghanaians are calling for accountability, and the development has left the national team's immediate future unresolved.
The invitation to Queiroz echoes the experience of Otto Addo, who was named to FIFA's Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup after his stint as Black Stars coach ended. This move highlights the value CAF and FIFA place on Queiroz's technical expertise, despite Ghana no longer having him at the helm.
As Queiroz prepares to contribute to Africa's long-term football strategy, Ghana is left to address its coaching vacancy and the accountability questions surrounding Okraku's leadership. There is no clear indication of who might replace Queiroz or when a decision is expected, leaving the national team's future uncertain.
The CAF Strategy Conference aims to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the future of African football. With Queiroz's participation, the conference is set to benefit from his wealth of experience and insights. The outcome of the conference may have implications for Ghana's football landscape, as the country navigates its current challenges.
Key points
- Carlos Queiroz invited to CAF Strategy Conference to share his football expertise
- Ghana's coaching vacancy and GFA leadership under scrutiny amid national team's struggles
- Conference aims to review African teams' performance at 2026 FIFA World Cup and strategize for 2030 tournament
