Carlos Queiroz has ended his second spell in charge of Ghana after only a short period, following a difficult opening to the Black Stars’ CAN 2027 qualifying campaign.
The Portuguese coach returned as Ghana manager on 2 September 2026, but his position was quickly weakened by two defeats in the first two matches. His decision to leave was shaped by poor results, growing tension with supporters and concerns over the conditions surrounding the national team.
A difficult start in qualifying
Ghana’s campaign began with a 0-2 defeat by Cote d’Ivoire. The Black Stars then suffered another setback in their next match, losing 2-4 at home to Gambia on Tuesday, 29 September.
That result left Ghana without a point after two games and bottom of Group C. The scale of the defeat intensified scrutiny of Queiroz and placed immediate pressure on his position.
The early results represented the first major factor behind the decision to end his time with the national team. With the qualifying campaign already presenting a difficult challenge, Ghana’s poor start left little room for error.
Supporters turn against the coach
The loss to Gambia also heightened public frustration. Many Ghanaian supporters, disappointed by the team’s performances, openly called for Queiroz to leave.
Some of the manager’s comments added to the controversy. While discussing the possible consequences of Ghana failing to qualify, Queiroz referred to Italy’s absence from several recent editions of the World Cup in an attempt to place the situation in perspective.
That comparison was poorly received, particularly at a time when the defeat by Gambia had already increased dissatisfaction around the Black Stars. The reaction from supporters further intensified the pressure on the Portuguese coach.
Concerns over the working environment
Results were not the only issue raised by Queiroz. He also pointed to difficulties in the wider working environment and believed that the conditions required to build his project had not been fully provided.
Among the concerns were infrastructure, support for developing young players, the organisation surrounding the national team and the management of a large number of injuries.
Queiroz concluded that he did not have enough guarantees to establish his plans over the long term. Alongside Ghana’s poor start to the CAN 2027 qualifiers and the increasingly strained relationship with supporters, those concerns contributed to his decision to bring his brief return with the Black Stars to an end.
