Carlos Queiroz has left his position as head coach of Ghana, ending his latest Black Stars mandate less than a month after being retained to lead the country into the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Ghana Football Association confirmed on Friday, October 2, that it and the Portuguese coach had mutually agreed to terminate the service agreement governing his role.
The association said the decision followed discussions between both parties and that further technical arrangements concerning the leadership of the Black Stars would be announced later.
The separation comes at a difficult point in Ghana’s qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars surrendered a two-goal advantage in a 4-2 defeat to The Gambia on September 29, leaving Ghana without a point after its opening two matches in Group C.
That result increased the pressure around a side that entered the international window looking to establish itself early in the race for AFCON 2027.
Instead, Ghana now has to respond to poor results while preparing for another change in technical leadership.
A mandate that lasted less than a month
The timing of Queiroz’s departure adds another layer to the setback.
CAF reported on September 4 that Ghana had retained the 73-year-old and handed him a new mandate for the AFCON qualifying campaign after he guided the Black Stars into the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup.
That decision had been presented as a move for continuity.
Queiroz subsequently named his squad for Ghana’s opening qualifiers, with Mohammed Kudus among several players recalled for matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
Weeks later, the continuity project is over.
In a statement published by the GFA, Queiroz confirmed that the termination was mutually agreed and said both parties believed ending the relationship was the appropriate decision under the circumstances.
Neither the GFA nor Queiroz provided a detailed account of any private discussions behind the separation.
Ghana’s qualifying pressure now shifts beyond the coach
The immediate challenge for Ghana is bigger than appointing Queiroz’s successor.
The Black Stars have already lost ground in an AFCON qualifying campaign in which early mistakes can quickly become expensive.
CAF confirmed that Ghana’s defeat to The Gambia left the Black Stars pointless after Matchday Two, while the Gambians strengthened their own position in Group C.
The qualifying format also places added value on every result. CAF divided the 48 participating countries into 12 four-team groups for the opening phase of the road to the 2027 tournament.
Ghana therefore enters its next phase needing both technical stability and a competitive response.
The GFA says the next arrangements for the Black Stars’ leadership will be announced in due course.
For Ghana, that announcement will come with immediate pressure attached: a campaign that began with expectations of continuity now requires a reset before the early damage becomes harder to repair.