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 brings an end to Queiroz’s tenure after Ghana opened its AFCON qualifying campaign with consecutive defeats, having earlier lost 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire.
The GFA announced the decision in a statement issued by its Communications Department on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
Queiroz said the decision followed discussions held “in a spirit of mutual respect” and acknowledged that Ghana’s recent performance contributed to the end of his tenure.
“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,” he said.
The Portuguese coach also said the conditions required to achieve his objectives with the national team had not been fully established.
“I came to Ghana determined to help build a stronger future for the Black Stars and support the development of the country’s talent. 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 said.
Ghana surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday.
The result left the Black Stars at the bottom of Group C without a point from their opening two matches, having also conceded six goals in the process.
Following the defeat, Queiroz apologised to supporters and pointed to the absence of several players and changes to the squad between matches as factors that affected the team.
Queiroz, 73, was appointed in April as a short-term replacement for Otto Addo, with his initial four-month contract covering 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 after 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 AFCON qualifiers.
He subsequently took charge of Ghana’s matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, losing both games.
In his farewell message, Queiroz thanked the GFA and particularly its President for trusting him with the opportunity to lead the Black Stars.
He also expressed gratitude to his technical staff and everyone who supported the team, particularly those involved since the start of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
The former coach reserved special praise for the players, saying they had represented Ghana “with courage, commitment and pride”.
He urged Ghanaians to continue supporting the squad despite the difficult start to the AFCON campaign.
“Believe in these players. Protect them. Support them,” Queiroz said.
He added that the current generation possesses the talent and potential to achieve success if provided with unity, support and the right environment.
“The talent and potential are there. With unity, support and the right environment, this generation can achieve great things for Ghana,” he said.
Queiroz also thanked Ghanaian supporters for their “passion, support and warmth”, saying he would carry Ghana with him “with respect and affection”.
He ended his message by stressing:
“Ghana comes first. The Black Stars come first. Ghanaian football comes first.”
The departure leaves the Black Stars without a permanent head coach ahead of the next AFCON qualifying window.
Ghana have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia and are seeking to return to the AFCON after missing the previous edition in Morocco.
The GFA is yet to announce whether an interim coach will be appointed or when a permanent replacement for Queiroz will be named.
