Ghana Coach Queiroz Departs By Mutual Consent After Gambia Defeat

Carlos Queiroz has left his role as Ghana head coach by mutual agreement, the Ghana Football Association announced Thursday, after a damaging 4-2 home defeat to Gambia deepened the Black Stars’ latest crisis.

The GFA said it had agreed with the veteran Portuguese coach to end his contract, barely a month after reappointing him. Queiroz, 73, had returned on Sept. 2 for a new mandate.

In a farewell message published on the association’s website, Queiroz said the decision was not easy but that both sides believed ending the professional relationship was the right step under the circumstances. He said the interests of Ghana, the Black Stars and Ghanaian football came first, adding that the necessary conditions had not been fully established and that recent results had contributed to the decision.

The move followed Ghana’s collapse against Gambia in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium. The four-time African champions led 2-0 through Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan before Gambia scored four times to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Ghana had already lost 2-0 away to Ivory Coast and sit bottom of Group C with no points after two matches.

Queiroz leaves with a record of one win, two draws and four defeats in seven matches. Ghana scored five goals and conceded 10 during his tenure.

His association with Ghana began in April, when he signed a four-month contract with the aim of taking the team to the 2026 World Cup. He guided Ghana to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 2010 after victories over Panama and a draw with England. Colombia then eliminated the Black Stars 1-0 in the Round of 32.

His initial mandate ended after that tournament, but the GFA reappointed him on Sept. 2. His second spell lasted only about a month.

Queiroz’s exit leaves the GFA searching for stability again at a difficult moment. Ghana trail Ivory Coast and Gambia by six points after just two qualifiers. With only the top two teams from each four-team group advancing, the Black Stars already face an uphill challenge to avoid missing a second successive Africa Cup of Nations.