Carlos Queiroz leaves Ghana after back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifying defeats

Mutual departure after qualifying setbacks

The Ghana Football Association announced on Thursday that it parted ways with head coach Carlos Queiroz by mutual consent less than a month into his second stint. The decision followed two consecutive defeats in the opening matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign. Ghana suffered a 2-0 loss away to Ivory Coast on 24 September and fell 4-2 at home to Gambia on 29 September. The latter match, held at Accra Sports Stadium, saw the four-time African champions surrender a 2-0 advantage established by Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan before Gambia scored four times.

This was not an easy decision, but both parties agreed that, under the present circumstances, ending our professional relationship was the most appropriate course of action, with the interests of Ghana, the Black Stars and Ghanaian football above everything else.

World Cup campaign and reappointment

The 73-year-old Portuguese coach originally signed a four-month contract in April 2026 to lead the Black Stars into the 2026 World Cup. During the tournament, Ghana advanced from Group L in third place behind England and Croatia, securing their first knockout round qualification since 2010. The squad recorded an opening victory over Panama and held England to a goalless draw in group play before Colombia eliminated them with a 1-0 victory in the round of 32. Queiroz stepped down following the tournament exit, but the national federation reappointed him on 2 September 2026.

Statistical record and qualification table

Across his two stints covering five months, Queiroz managed seven fixtures, finishing with a record of one win, two draws and four defeats. Under his leadership, the Black Stars scored five goals and conceded 10 in all competitions, including a pre-World Cup draw against Wales. Following the two losses in September, Ghana sits at the bottom of Group C with zero points. The team now trails group leaders Ivory Coast and Gambia by six points, facing qualification pressure because only the top two teams from the four-team group reach the final tournament.

Managerial background and November fixtures

Queiroz stated on Thursday that necessary working conditions were not established, which contributed to the joint decision to conclude his tenure. The spell marked his fifth appearance coaching at World Cup tournaments, following runs with Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018 and 2022 during a 35-year coaching career that encompassed nine national teams. In his farewell remarks, Queiroz urged supporters to back the current generation of players and maintain faith in their potential. The Ghana Football Association will recruit a successor before back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Somalia in November 2026.

Despite our commitment and efforts, the necessary conditions were not fully established. This, together with our recent performances, led us to the decision to end this journey.