Carlos Queiroz Sacked as Black Stars Head Coach
Carlos Queiroz has been relieved of his position as head coach of Ghana’s senior national football team, the Black Stars, following a difficult start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Queiroz leaves Black Stars job
The Portuguese coach’s departure was reported on Thursday, October 1, 2026, following discussions between the Ghana Football Association and the coach after Ghana’s opening two matches in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
According to reports, both parties agreed to part ways after the Black Stars suffered consecutive defeats against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
Black Stars suffer difficult AFCON qualifying start
Ghana opened their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire before suffering a 4-2 loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars had taken a two-goal lead against The Gambia but were unable to maintain their advantage as the visitors completed a comeback.
The two defeats left Ghana without a point from its opening two qualifying matches.
Queiroz had defended his position after Gambia defeat
Following the defeat to The Gambia on September 29, Queiroz said his resignation would not by itself resolve the wider challenges facing Ghanaian football.
He said the decision over his future belonged to the Ghana Football Association and indicated that he would accept whatever decision the federation reached.
Short second spell ends
Queiroz had returned to the Black Stars in September after the GFA reached an agreement with him for a new coaching mandate following Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
His latest spell, however, lasted only a short period before the GFA and the Portuguese coach agreed to end their working relationship.
Ghana now faces a coaching transition
The departure leaves the Black Stars needing a new technical direction as preparations continue for the remainder of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
Attention will now turn to the Ghana Football Association and the process for determining the team’s next head coach as Ghana seeks to recover from its opening results in Group C.
