Carlos Queiroz Gone Again as Agreement is Reached With Ghana FA
Carlos Queiroz has stepped down as Black Stars head coach for the second time this year, with the Ghana Football Association confirming the pair have mutually terminated his contract following a dramatic few months in charge.
The veteran Portuguese coach, who previously assisted at Manchester United and managed Real Madrid, took over Ghana’s reins back in April — just weeks before the FIFA World Cup — after Otto Addo was relieved of his duties. With only one warm-up fixture to prepare his new side, Queiroz installed a pragmatic system that steered the Black Stars to a respectable last-32 World Cup exit at the hands of Colombia.
He initially resigned in the immediate aftermath of that result, only to perform a surprise U-turn eight weeks later, signing a fresh contract on 2 September. That decision bought him two more matches in the Black Stars dugout — but both ended in painful AFCON 2027 qualifying defeats, to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, by an aggregate scoreline of 6-2.
Those results appear to have sealed Queiroz’s fate for good. In a joint statement, the GFA confirmed the Service Agreement governing his role has been mutually terminated, following discussions described as being held “in a spirit of mutual respect.”
GFA Thanks Queiroz for His Service
The federation was quick to strike a conciliatory tone in its announcement. “This decision, though not an easy one, was reached with the best interests of Ghana, the Black Stars and Ghanaian football at heart. Both parties agreed that under the present circumstances, ending the professional relationship was the most appropriate course of action,” the GFA said.
The Association also thanked the outgoing coach for his contribution during a turbulent but eventful spell in charge. “The Ghana Football Association would like to sincerely thank Carlos Queiroz for his commitment, professionalism and dedication during his time with the Black Stars. We are grateful for his efforts in helping to build a stronger future for the national team and supporting the development of Ghanaian talent since taking charge ahead of the preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the AFCON 2027 qualifiers,” the statement continued, with appreciation also extended to Queiroz’s technical staff for their role in the Black Stars project.
The GFA confirmed it would wish Queiroz well in his future endeavours, while promising further clarity soon on what comes next. “The Association will in due course announce detailed technical arrangements and the next steps regarding the leadership of the Black Stars.”
What’s Next for the Black Stars?
Queiroz’s second exit leaves Ghana facing fresh uncertainty just as their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign gets underway, with the Black Stars already facing an uphill battle in a group that includes three-time African champions Côte d’Ivoire. All eyes now turn to who the GFA turns to next — and whether Ghana’s new era can bring the stability this group of players has so clearly been missing.
