Carlos Queiroz leaves Ghana job for second time in three months after Afcon qualifying defeats

Carlos Queiroz has left his position as Ghana head coach for the second time in three months. The 73-year-old Portuguese manager departs after the Black Stars suffered consecutive defeats at the start of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The split arrives at the end of a short and turbulent spell shaped by the 2026 World Cup and the poor results that followed.

• Queiroz leaves the Ghana bench by mutual decision with the Ghana Football Association.
• Defeats against Ivory Coast and the Gambia triggered the exit during Afcon 2027 qualifying.
• The Portuguese coach had already resigned after the 2026 World Cup, where Ghana fell to Colombia in the round of 32.
• He returned to the role in early September but lasted only a few weeks in his second stint.

Defeats to Ivory Coast and the Gambia end Queiroz's second spell

Queiroz's second chapter in charge of the Black Stars has lasted only a matter of weeks. Ghana began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with two straight losses: first against Ivory Coast and then against the Gambia. That poor start made it impossible to sustain a project that had already come close to falling apart after the World Cup.

Queiroz himself explained that the decision was not easy, but both parties agreed that going their separate ways was the most appropriate path. He stressed that the interests of Ghana, the Black Stars and Ghanaian football had to come before anything else.

A mixed 2026 World Cup for Ghana under Queiroz

Queiroz took the job just two months before the 2026 World Cup, replacing Otto Addo. The former head coach was dismissed after heavy defeats to Austria and Germany. With the Portuguese in the dugout, Ghana made it through the group stage, including a goalless draw with England, before being knocked out by Colombia in the round of 32.

Immediately after that elimination, the Portuguese coach handed in his resignation. However, in early September he made a surprise return to the setup. This time, the adventure has ended far sooner than expected.

Carlos Queiroz's farewell message

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.

The Portuguese coach, who has managed the likes of Portugal, Iran and Egypt at World Cups, closed his message with a nod to the fans and the players. He argued that the talent and potential of this generation are there and that, with unity, support and the right environment, the team can achieve great things for the country.

He also called for the players to be protected and supported, thanking them for their courage and pride in representing Ghana. He ended his statement with a repeated idea: Ghana first, the Black Stars first, Ghanaian football first.

The goal of returning to an Africa Cup of Nations after missing 2025

Ghanaian football is going through a difficult period. The national team failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a humiliation for a country with so much tradition on the continent. In that context, reaching the World Cup round of 32 was hardly seen as a failure for Queiroz. The real challenge was to return Ghana to Africa's elite and get back to the continental finals.

With the Portuguese coach gone once again, the Ghana Football Association will need to find a replacement capable of turning around a qualifying campaign for 2027 that has already started badly. The margin for error is minimal, and the next head coach will inherit a squad shaken by the instability of recent months.