CARLOS QUIREZ EXITS SS BLACK STARS COACH AFTER GAMBIA DEFEAT

The defeat left Ghana without a point from its opening two Group C matches after an earlier 2-0 loss to Côte d’Ivoire. The GFA announced the decision in a statement issued by its Communications Department on Thursday, October 1 2026. The statement said Queiroz and the GFA have agreed to end his service agreement after discussions held “in a spirit of mutual respect”. It said it was “not an easy decision”, but that both parties considered it the most appropriate course of action “under the present circumstances”. Queiroz is said to have noted that the interests of Ghana and Ghanaian football had been placed above all else. Queiroz acknowledged that the team’s recent results contributed to the decision. “Despite our efforts, the necessary conditions were not fully established and our recent performance added to the decision to bring this journey to an end,” he said. Queiroz said he came to Ghana “determined to help build a stronger future for the Black Stars and support the development of the country’s talent”. Ghana surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday. His initial four-month contract covered Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. History The Black Stars reached the Round of 32 before losing 1-0 to Colombia. Queiroz’s future became uncertain after the tournament, but the GFA later reached an agreement with him to lead the team into the next phase of its programme. The new arrangement covered the September international window and the opening AFCON qualifiers. Queiroz then took charge of the Black Stars in their matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, losing both games. The departure leaves the Black Stars without a permanent head coach ahead of the next AFCON qualifying window. Ghana have been drawn in Group C with Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia and are seeking to return to the AFCON after missing the previous edition in Morocco. The GFA is yet to announce whether an interim coach will be appointed or when a permanent replacement for Queiroz will be named. Queiroz thanked the GFA President, his technical staff and the players for their support during his time with the team. He urged Ghanaians to “believe in these players” and “protect them”. He ended his message by saying, “Ghana comes first. The Black Stars come first. Ghanaian football comes first.”