Queiroz Departs Ghana As Black Stars Coach
Carlos Queiroz has left his role as Black Stars head coach by mutual consent, two days after Ghana's 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia left the team bottom of its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group without a point.
GFA And Queiroz Agree To End Service Agreement
The Ghana Football Association announced on Thursday, October 1, that it has parted ways with head coach Carlos Queiroz by mutual consent, ending his six-month spell in charge of the Black Stars. The decision followed discussions described by both sides as held "in a spirit of mutual respect," two days after Ghana let slip a two-goal lead and fell to a 4-2 home defeat against The Gambia in their second 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Combined with an opening 2-0 loss away to Cote d'Ivoire, the result left Ghana bottom of Group C with no points and six goals conceded from their first two matches.
Queiroz's Time In Charge Began As A World Cup Stopgap
Queiroz, 73, took the job in April on what was framed as a caretaker basis, brought in to replace Otto Addo and guide the team solely through the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ghana made it into the last 32 of that tournament before bowing out to Colombia 1-0. With no clear plan for who would take over afterward, the federation instead struck a fresh deal with Queiroz to stay on through the September international fixtures and the opening rounds of AFCON qualifying. He then led the team through the defeats to Cote d'Ivoire and The Gambia, after which he and the GFA agreed to end the arrangement. In a statement, Queiroz said: "Despite our commitment and efforts, the necessary conditions were not fully established, and our recent performance added to the decision to bring this journey to an end." He added that he had come to Ghana "determined to help build a stronger future for the Black Stars and support the development of the country's talent."
Black Stars Left Without A Coach Ahead Of Next Qualifying Window
The GFA has not yet said whether an interim coach will be appointed or when a permanent replacement will be named. Ghana are seeking to return to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing the previous edition in Morocco, and remain in Group C alongside Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia. In his statement, Queiroz thanked the GFA president, his technical staff and the players, and urged supporters to "believe in these players" and "protect them," closing with the message: "Ghana comes first. The Black Stars come first. Ghanaian football comes first."