Ghana woke up on Thursday to news a lot of people saw coming but still didn’t want to hear. The departure of the coach was made official on Thursday, October 1, with Queiroz putting out an official statement. Carlos Queiroz, the Black Stars coach, has been sacked, or « mutually parted ways » if you prefer the polite version the GFA went with
Let’s break down what happened, because there’s a lot of noise out there.
So, was Carlos Queiroz sacked or did he resign?
Officially, neither. The statement says both sides agreed to terminate his service agreement after talks held in a spirit of mutual respect. In plain language, though, the Black Stars lost two straight qualifiers, the pressure became unbearable, and the coach is gone. Most Ghanaian media have reported it as a sacking. Queiroz himself admitted that the team’s recent results contributed to the decision
Only days earlier, after the Gambia loss, he had said he wouldn’t resign and that his future was in the GFA’s hands and tied to results. The GFA clearly decided.
Reasons Why Carlos Queiroz was sacked
Two games. Two defeats. That was the breaking point.
Ghana opened their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké, then came home to face The Gambia in Accra. The Black Stars led 2-0, with Felix Afena-Gyan scoring a spectacular free-kick. Then it fell apart. Ghana failed to clear a ball from a throw-in, and Gambia pulled level four minutes before half-time. The visitors went on to win 4-2.
The numbers are ugly. Ghana sit bottom of Group C without a point and have conceded six goals in two games, and it was the first time the Black Stars had conceded four goals in an AFCON qualifier.
After the game, Queiroz apologized to supporters and pointed to missing players and squad changes between matches. Fans weren’t in the mood for explanations.
How did Queiroz’s time with the Black Stars go?
It’s a more mixed story than the last two games suggest. He was brought in as a short-term replacement for Otto Addo just before the World Cup. Under him, Ghana beat Panama 1-0, drew 0-0 with England and lost 2-1 to Croatia, before a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32. Reaching the knockouts for the first time since 2010 was a real achievement.
His contract ended after the tournament. The GFA then reappointed him for the next phase, after talks that also involved the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, covering the September window and the opening AFCON qualifiers. That decision looks very different now. Overall, GhanaWeb’s tally of his tenure reads 7 games, 4 losses, 1 win.
What did Queiroz say in his farewell?
He thanked the GFA and its president for the trust, said it was an honor to serve, and paid tribute to the players. He also said that despite everyone’s efforts, the necessary conditions were not fully established. That line is already being debated across Ghanaian football circles, and it’s a pointed one.
Who will coach the Black Stars next after Carlos Queiroz has been sacked
Nobody has been named. The GFA is yet to announce whether an interim coach will be appointed or when a permanent replacement will be named. Don’t trust any « confirmed » name you see on social media today.
None of this has been confirmed by the GFA, so treat it as reported claims. Still, it lines up with Queiroz’s farewell comment that the necessary conditions were not fully established.
Here’s what we do know. Hervé Renard, long a favorite for the job, has been confirmed as Côte d’Ivoire’s coach, so that door is closed. Social media is pushing for James Kwesi Appiah, now with Sudan, and some fans want a local coach. Reports earlier this year also linked Desmond Ofei to the role. All of this is speculation until the GFA speaks.
The clock matters. The Black Stars have a Somalia double-header in November (the window runs 9 to 17 November), and the GFA needs someone in place well before then.
What’s the reaction been?
Loud. Politicians are weighing in, including a call from Communications Minister Sam George for a major overhaul after the Black Stars’ collapse, and Parliament’s Sports Committee plans to question the Ministry and the GFA over the team’s struggles. Some are demanding changes at the GFA itself, not just the dugout.
Here’s the bigger picture. Ghana has now had seven coaches in the last seven years. Changing the man in charge is the easy part. Without a clear plan and some patience, the next coach could be in the same chair, with the same pressure, in a year.
Can Ghana still qualify for AFCON 2027?
Yes, though it’s going to be hard. Two teams from each of the 12 groups qualify. Ghana have four games left in Group C, including two against Somalia, and the finals are in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027. Ghana have no points while Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire are ahead. The margin for error is now zero.
Reaction after Carlos Queiroz was sacked
The reaction has been loud. Communications Minister Sam George called for a major overhaul after the Black Stars’ collapse, and Parliament’s Sports Committee plans to question the Ministry and the GFA. Reports also said the sports minister walked out after the Gambia defeat.
The wider problem is hard to ignore. Ghana has now had seven coaches in seven years. Yen.com.gh’s analysis found that Ghana has won 39.3% of competitive matches under GFA president Kurt Okraku, the lowest of the seven administrations studied. Sacking a coach is the easy part. Giving the next one stability is the real test.
Can Ghana still reach AFCON 2027 now that Queiroz has been sacked?
Yes, but the margin for error has gone. Two teams from each group qualify; Ghana has four games left in Group C and the finals run from June 19 to July 17, 2027, in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. With no points on the board, the new coach will have to win almost everything.
Final word
Carlos Queiroz, the Black Stars coach, has been sacked, but the real question isn’t who’s out. It’s whether the GFA gets the next appointment right and gives that person real backing. We’ll update this post the moment a new coach or interim is named.
What do you think? Was the GFA right to act this fast, and who should take over? Drop your take in the comments.
FAQ
Has Carlos Queiroz been sacked as Black Stars coach?
Yes. The GFA and Queiroz announced on October 1, 2026 that they had terminated his agreement by mutual consent after two straight AFCON qualifying defeats.
Why was Carlos Queiroz sacked?
Ghana lost 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire and 4-2 to The Gambia, leaving them bottom of Group C with no points.
Who is the new Black Stars coach?
No one has been named yet. The GFA hasn’t said whether it will appoint an interim or permanent coach.
How much compensation will Queiroz get?
It hasn’t been disclosed. Reports say the financial details of the agreement are yet to be made public.
When is the next Black Stars match?
Ghana play Somalia in a double-header in the 9 to 17 November window.
How many coaches has Ghana had in recent years?
Seven in seven years, according to MyJoyOnline.
