Carlos Queiroz has parted ways with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as head coach of the Black Stars by mutual consent, two days after Ghana suffered a 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The decision was announced by the GFA on Thursday, October 1, 2026, following discussions between the two parties.
The GFA Communications Department said Queiroz and the association had agreed to terminate his service agreement after discussions held “in a spirit of mutual respect”.
According to the statement, the decision was “not an easy decision”, but both parties considered it the most appropriate course of action “under the present circumstances”.
Queiroz is also said to have acknowledged that the interests of Ghana and Ghanaian football had been placed above all else in reaching the decision.
The Portuguese coach admitted that the Black Stars’ recent results contributed to his departure.
“Despite our efforts, the necessary conditions were not fully established, and our recent performance added to the decision to bring this journey to an end,” he said.
Queiroz said he arrived in Ghana with the determination to help lay the foundation for a stronger future for the Black Stars and contribute to the development of the country’s football talent.
“I came to Ghana determined to help build a stronger future for the Black Stars and support the development of the country’s talent,” he said.
Poor start to AFCON qualifiers
Queiroz’s departure comes after a difficult start to Ghana’s 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday.
The defeat left Ghana without a point from its opening two Group C matches. The team had earlier suffered a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in its opening qualifier.
Ghana have now conceded six goals in their first two matches and sit at the bottom of Group C.
Following the defeat to The Gambia, Queiroz apologised to Ghanaian supporters and cited the absence of several players and changes to the squad between the two matches as factors that affected the team’s performance.
The result ultimately contributed to the decision to end his short tenure with the national team.
Short spell as Black Stars coach
Queiroz, 73, was appointed in April as a short-term replacement for Otto Addo.
His initial four-month contract covered Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars reached the Round of 32 at the tournament before losing 1-0 to Colombia.
Queiroz’s future became uncertain following the World Cup, but the GFA later reached an agreement with him to continue leading the team into the next phase of its programme.
The new arrangement covered the September international window and the opening matches of Ghana’s 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
Queiroz subsequently took charge of the Black Stars in their matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, losing both games.
His departure now leaves Ghana without a permanent head coach ahead of the next AFCON qualifying window.
Ghana’s AFCON qualification campaign
Ghana have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia as they seek to return to the AFCON after missing the previous edition in Morocco.
The Black Stars face a difficult task after losing their first two qualifying matches and failing to register a point.
The GFA is yet to announce whether an interim coach will be appointed or when a permanent replacement for Queiroz will be named.
Queiroz thanks players and supporters
In his farewell message, Queiroz thanked GFA President Kurt Okraku, his technical staff and the players for their support during his time with the Black Stars.
He also urged Ghanaians to continue supporting the players and called on the public to protect them.
“Believe in these players” and “protect them”, he urged.
Queiroz ended his message with a strong statement about his commitment to the country and its football.
“Ghana comes first. The Black Stars come first. Ghanaian football comes first.”
