AFCON 2027: Carlos Queiroz leaves Ghana's Black Stars after a series of setbacks

Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz officially announced his departure from the Ghana Black Stars bench on October 1, 2026, according to reports from RFI Afrique. This split comes barely a month after his contract extension and concludes a five-month stint at the helm of the national team, marked by performances well below expectations.

The decision was precipitated by a stinging 4-2 home defeat against The Gambia, which occurred on Tuesday during the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign. This poor performance follows a previous 2-0 loss suffered in Côte d'Ivoire. With two losses in as many matches, Ghana finds itself at the bottom of Group C, without a single point to its name.

At 73 years old, Carlos Queiroz had initially taken the reins of the team in April 2026 with a short four-month mission focused on the 2026 World Cup. During the global tournament held that summer, he managed to lead the Black Stars to the round of 16, where they were defeated 1-0 by Colombia. Despite an initial resignation following that run, the federation had reappointed him on September 2, 2026.

The coach nevertheless leaves his post with an unfavorable statistical record of seven matches, totaling only one victory, two draws, and four defeats, with five goals scored against ten conceded. In an official statement, Carlos Queiroz emphasized that this mutual agreement to part ways was intended to protect the best interests of Ghanaian football in the face of working conditions that had become untenable.

Our perspective

This new technical crisis within the Black Stars highlights the fragility of sports projects based on temporary solutions and foreign coaches. To reconnect with its historical greatness, Ghanaian football must urgently build a sovereign, long-term vision, value local expertise, and sustainably structure its national teams to honor the passion of its supporters.