The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has parted ways with Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz following the team’s disappointing start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The decision was reached after discussions between the GFA and the Portuguese coach following Ghana’s opening two matches in the qualifiers.
Queiroz oversaw back-to-back defeats against Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia, results that left the Black Stars at the bottom of their qualifying group.
The GFA and Queiroz formally ended their working relationship on Thursday, October 1, 2026, with the Portuguese coach confirming the decision in an official statement.
“Following discussions held in a spirit of mutual respect, the Ghana Football Association and I have mutually agreed to terminate the Service Agreement governing my role as Head Coach of the Ghana National Team, the Black Stars,” Queiroz said.
He described the decision as difficult but said both parties agreed that ending their professional relationship was the most appropriate course of action under the circumstances.
According to Queiroz, the interests of Ghana, the Black Stars and Ghanaian football remained the priority in reaching the decision.
“It has been an honour to serve Ghana and the Black Stars,” he said, expressing gratitude to the GFA and its president for the opportunity to lead the national team.
Queiroz said he arrived in Ghana with the objective of helping to build a stronger future for the Black Stars and contributing to the development of the country’s football talent.
However, he acknowledged that the necessary conditions for achieving those objectives had not been fully established, while the team’s recent performances contributed to the decision to end his tenure.
He also thanked his technical team and those who supported the Black Stars, particularly during the preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Queiroz reserved special praise for the players, urging Ghanaians to continue supporting them.
“Believe in these players. Protect them. Support them,” he said, stressing that the team possesses talent and potential capable of achieving significant success with the right support and environment.
The former coach also expressed appreciation to Ghanaian supporters for their passion, support and hospitality during his time with the national team.
“Ghana comes first. The Black Stars come first. Ghanaian football comes first,” Queiroz said.
He ended his statement by thanking the Ghanaian people and signing off: “Thank you, Ghana. To the Future.”
