Carlos Queiroz’s short tenure as head coach of the Black Stars has come to an end after just seven matches in charge, following an eventful period that included Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed the Portuguese coach’s departure on October 1, with both parties agreeing that ending their professional relationship was the best decision moving forward.
Queiroz officially took charge of the Black Stars on June 11, 2026, with his first assignment being a friendly encounter against Wales before leading Ghana into the World Cup.
Despite limited preparation time, the experienced coach guided Ghana through a challenging World Cup group stage, helping the team qualify for the knockout rounds of the expanded tournament.
The Black Stars’ campaign eventually ended in the Round of 32 after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
The tournament also saw Queiroz make history as he became one of the few coaches to lead a national team at five consecutive World Cups. His previous World Cup appearances included guiding South Africa to qualification in 2002, managing Portugal in 2010, and leading Iran at the 2014 and 2018 tournaments.
However, his overall record with Ghana reflected a difficult spell.
Across seven matches, Queiroz recorded:
- 1 win
- 2 draws
- 4 defeats
- 5 goals scored
- 10 goals conceded
- 14.3% win rate
Following the World Cup, discussions were held over extending his contract ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
However, after Ghana’s poor start to the qualifying campaign — including defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia — the GFA and Queiroz agreed to part ways by mutual consent.
His departure continues Ghana’s recent instability on the touchline, with the Black Stars now having gone through seven different coaches in seven years.
The GFA must now begin the search for a new head coach as Ghana look to rebuild confidence and revive their AFCON qualifying campaign.
