Accra, Ghana — October 1, 2026: Carlos Queiroz is no longer the head coach of Ghana’s senior national football team, the Black Stars, after the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Portuguese coach mutually agreed to terminate his service agreement.
The decision comes just weeks after Queiroz was reappointed to lead the Black Stars into the next phase of their programme.
The GFA confirmed the development on Thursday, October 1, saying the decision followed discussions between both parties conducted in a spirit of mutual respect.
According to the Association, both sides agreed that ending the professional relationship was the most appropriate course of action under the circumstances.
Queiroz Leaves After Two Consecutive AFCON Qualifying Defeats
Queiroz’s departure follows a difficult start to Ghana’s campaign to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Black Stars lost their opening two Group C qualifying matches.
Ghana suffered a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire before losing 4-2 at home to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The two defeats left Ghana without a point from its first two matches of the qualifying campaign.
The defeat to The Gambia was particularly damaging.
Ghana had taken a 2-0 lead but eventually conceded four goals as The Gambia completed a comeback victory in Accra.
The result left the Black Stars at the bottom of Group C without a point after two games, while they had already conceded six goals.
GFA Confirms Mutual Termination
In its official statement, the Ghana Football Association said:
“The Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Carlos Queiroz have mutually agreed to terminate the Service Agreement governing his role as Head Coach of the Black Stars, following discussions held in a spirit of mutual respect.”
The GFA described the decision as difficult but said both parties agreed that it was in the interests of Ghana, the Black Stars and Ghanaian football.
The Association also thanked Queiroz for his commitment and contribution during his time with the national team.
Queiroz: Recent Performance Contributed to Decision
In his farewell statement, Queiroz acknowledged that the team’s recent performances contributed to the decision to end his second spell in charge.
He said he arrived in Ghana determined to help build a stronger future for the Black Stars and support the development of Ghanaian talent.
However, he said that despite the commitment and efforts of his team, the necessary conditions were not fully established and the team’s recent performance contributed to the decision to end the relationship.
Queiroz did not provide detailed explanations of what he meant by the “necessary conditions.”
A Second Departure in 2026
Queiroz’s latest exit marks his second departure from the Black Stars job in 2026.
The Portuguese coach was initially appointed in April as a short-term replacement for Otto Addo, with his first mandate covering Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana reached the Round of 32 at the tournament before losing 1-0 to Colombia.
After the World Cup, Queiroz’s future with the Black Stars became uncertain.
However, on September 2, the GFA announced that it had reached a new agreement with him to lead the national team into the next phase of its programme, including the September international window and the beginning of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
That second spell has now ended after only a short period.
Ghana’s Coaching Situation Changes Again
The latest development means the Black Stars are once again without a permanent head coach.
The GFA has not yet announced who will take temporary charge of the team or when a permanent replacement will be appointed.
The Association said it would announce the next steps regarding the technical leadership of the Black Stars in due course.
Queiroz Thanks Black Stars Players
In his farewell message, Queiroz thanked his technical staff, the GFA and the players.
He particularly appealed to Ghanaian supporters to continue supporting the Black Stars despite the team’s recent difficulties.
The Portuguese coach praised the players for representing Ghana and urged supporters to believe in the squad’s potential.
He also expressed his belief that the current generation possesses the talent to achieve significant things if provided with the right environment and support.
Ghana’s AFCON Qualification Campaign Now at a Critical Point
Ghana’s immediate challenge is to recover from the difficult opening to the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
The Black Stars are in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia.
After two matches, Ghana has no points and has conceded six goals.
The team therefore faces a significant challenge in its remaining qualifying fixtures.
The next stage of the campaign will also be played under a new coaching arrangement, with the GFA expected to announce details of its technical plans.
Queiroz’s Departure Comes After Otto Addo’s Earlier Exit
The latest coaching change follows the earlier departure of Otto Addo.
The GFA parted ways with Addo in March 2026 following a run of four consecutive defeats in the build-up to the World Cup.
The decision to remove Addo just weeks before the tournament generated considerable discussion in Ghanaian football.
The GFA later appointed Queiroz, who guided the team at the World Cup before initially leaving after Ghana’s elimination.
Queiroz was subsequently brought back for the AFCON qualifying campaign but has now departed again.
What Happens Next?
The immediate question is who will lead the Black Stars in their next international assignment.
The GFA has not yet announced a permanent successor to Queiroz.
For now, Ghana’s football authorities must address both the team’s poor start to the AFCON qualifying campaign and the search for another head coach.
The next appointment will come at a crucial point for the national team, with Ghana needing to recover from its opening defeats and improve its position in Group C.
For Carlos Queiroz, his second spell with Ghana has ended after only a few weeks and following two competitive defeats.
The GFA and the coach have described the separation as a mutual decision, while the team’s recent results were acknowledged as a contributing factor.
The Black Stars’ search for stability in the coaching department therefore continues.
JYMultimedia will continue to follow developments concerning the Black Stars, the GFA