Carlos Queiroz has ended his second spell in charge of Ghana after a disastrous start to the Black Stars’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Portuguese coach returned to the role on 2 September 2026, but decided to leave after Ghana lost both of their opening Group C matches. The defeats, rising hostility from supporters and concerns over the conditions surrounding the national team all contributed to his decision.
Poor start leaves Ghana bottom
Ghana’s results in the first two rounds of qualifying placed Queiroz under immediate pressure.
The Black Stars began with a 0-2 defeat by Cote d’Ivoire before suffering another setback at home against The Gambia. That second loss, a 2-4 reverse on Tuesday, 29 September, left Ghana without a point from their opening two games.
The result also left them bottom of Group C and created a difficult position for Queiroz to recover from. The scale of the defeat further weakened his position as the team’s coach and accelerated the breakdown in his relationship with the Ghana Football Association.
Supporters turn against the coach
The loss to The Gambia intensified public criticism of the manager.
Many Ghana supporters, unhappy with the team’s performances and results, openly called for Queiroz to be removed. The defeat came at a time when expectations around the Black Stars were already high, making the reaction particularly severe.
Comments made by Queiroz also added to the controversy. In an attempt to put the consequences of a possible failure to qualify into perspective, he referred to Italy’s absence from several recent World Cup editions.
That comparison was poorly received in Ghana, where the national team was already under pressure following its difficult opening to the qualifying campaign. It increased the tension between the coach and supporters rather than easing the criticism directed at him.
Concerns over working conditions
Queiroz’s decision was not based solely on the results. He also raised concerns about the wider environment in which he was expected to work with the national team.
The Portuguese coach believed that the necessary conditions for building his project had not been put in place. Among the issues weighing on his thinking were infrastructure, support for young players, the organisation surrounding the team and the management of the large number of injuries affecting the squad.
Queiroz felt he did not have sufficient guarantees to implement his plans over the long term. After only a short return to the Ghana post, he therefore chose to bring his time with the Black Stars to an end.
Ghana’s two defeats have left the team in a vulnerable position in Group C, while Queiroz’s departure brings another period of uncertainty for the national side.