Carlos Queiroz has been sacked as head coach of the Ghana national team with immediate effect following a disappointing start to the Black Stars’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Portuguese coach’s departure comes after Ghana suffered back-to-back defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia in their opening Group C matches, leaving the four-time African champions without a point.
Ghana opened their qualifying campaign on September 24 with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké.
Five days later, the Black Stars returned home hoping to bounce back against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. Instead, they suffered an even more painful 4-2 defeat after surrendering a two-goal lead.
Ghana appeared to be firmly in control after Ernest Nuamah converted from the penalty spot before Felix Afena-Gyan doubled the advantage with a superb free-kick.
However, the Black Stars failed to build on their early dominance and allowed The Gambia back into the contest before half-time.
The Scorpions capitalised on Ghana’s defensive lapses and completed a remarkable comeback in the second half to claim all three points.
The result immediately increased pressure on Queiroz, whose tenure had already attracted scrutiny following Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Queiroz had guided the Black Stars into the knockout stage after Ghana defeated Panama 1-0, drew 0-0 with England and lost 2-1 to Croatia in the group stage.
Ghana advanced from the group but were eliminated in the Round of 32 following a 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
The Black Stars struggled to create clear opportunities during the match and were punished when Jhon Arias scored in the 14th minute.
While qualification for the knockout stage represented progress from the group phase, the defeat to Colombia highlighted some of the concerns surrounding Ghana’s attacking output and overall performance.
Those concerns resurfaced during the opening matches of the AFCON qualifiers.
Against Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana struggled to create enough opportunities and eventually conceded twice. The team’s performance against The Gambia was expected to provide a response, but the collapse at the Accra Sports Stadium only deepened concerns over the side’s consistency and ability to manage games.
The defeat was particularly damaging because Ghana had taken a commanding 2-0 lead.
Nuamah’s penalty gave the hosts the advantage before Afena-Gyan’s free-kick appeared to put the Black Stars in a comfortable position. Instead, Ghana surrendered their lead and eventually lost the match 4-2.
Following the defeat, Queiroz rejected calls for his resignation and said his future was ultimately in the hands of the Ghana Football Association.
His reported dismissal now brings his time in charge of the Black Stars to an abrupt end.
The Ghana Football Association must now begin the search for a new coach capable of stabilising the team and reviving its AFCON qualification campaign.
Ghana currently have no points from their opening two Group C matches, leaving the Black Stars with little margin for further mistakes in the remaining fixtures.
The situation means the next appointment will carry significant responsibility, with the new coach expected to quickly restore confidence, improve the team’s attacking performance and address the defensive weaknesses exposed in the opening matches.
Ghana’s poor start also comes at a time when the Black Stars are seeking greater consistency after a period of mixed performances on the international stage.
The four-time African champions have a long history in the Africa Cup of Nations, but recent campaigns have failed to match the expectations traditionally associated with the national team.
The remaining AFCON qualifiers will therefore be crucial.
Ghana will need to pick up points in the remaining matches and produce a significant improvement if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the 2027 tournament alive.
For the GFA, the immediate task is to make the right technical decision and ensure that the uncertainty surrounding the coaching position does not further affect the team.
Queiroz’s departure leaves the Black Stars at a crossroads, with Ghana now preparing to enter the next phase of their qualification campaign under new technical leadership.
The focus will be on rebuilding the team, restoring confidence and securing the results needed to keep Ghana’s AFCON hopes alive.
