The future of Carlos Queiroz as Ghana’s head coach is increasingly uncertain, with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) reportedly leaning towards ending the Portuguese tactician’s short-term spell despite growing calls for him to remain at the helm.
Queiroz was brought in by the GFA in April on a four-month agreement, with the veteran coach tasked primarily with steering the Black Stars through the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
His contract is due to expire in August, leaving the GFA with a major decision to make as Ghana prepares for the next phase of its international football calendar.
Although the Black Stars were knocked out in the Round of 32, Queiroz achieved one of the key objectives attached to his appointment by guiding Ghana into the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
That achievement has fuelled a campaign from some supporters and members of the football fraternity for the 73-year-old to be retained, with many believing that continuity could help Ghana build a stronger side ahead of the next major competitions.
Queiroz’s own position has remained unclear since Ghana’s elimination. Shortly after the World Cup, a social media post was widely interpreted as a farewell message, sparking speculation that he had already decided to walk away.
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The former Real Madrid coach subsequently moved to clarify the situation, insisting that his post had been misunderstood and should not be regarded as an announcement of his departure.
There has also been political backing for his continued stay.
President John Mahama publicly advocated for Queiroz to remain in charge, arguing that maintaining the current technical direction could give the Black Stars the stability required to challenge for continental and global honours.
“I’m sure that if we keep this team, and we persuade the coach Carlos Queiroz to continue to work with the team, by the time of the next AFCON and the next World Cup, we’ll have a team that can claim the championship in either of those two competitions,” Mahama stated.
However, those calls appear unlikely to translate into a contract extension, with negotiations between the Portuguese coach and the GFA reportedly running into difficulties over his demands.
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The impasse has left the association exploring alternatives, with Executive Council member Nana Oduro Sarfo confirming that discussions with other potential candidates are ongoing.
“The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is still in talks with other coaches for the Black Stars job,” Oduro Sarfo told Kumasi-based Ezra Radio.
The uncertainty has been compounded by a change within Queiroz’s technical setup.
Roger De Sa, who joined the Black Stars coaching staff ahead of the World Cup as one of Queiroz’s assistants, has already departed after taking up the role of technical director at Cape Town Spurs.
Should Queiroz ultimately remain in charge, he would therefore have to oversee a partial reconstruction of his backroom staff.
For the GFA, however, the clock is already ticking.
Ghana are scheduled to resume competitive action in September with their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, leaving the football governing body with limited time to settle the coaching question and establish a clear technical direction.
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The Black Stars have been placed in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Somalia.
Having failed to qualify for the previous AFCON tournament in Morocco, Ghana will be under considerable pressure to secure a place at the 2027 finals.
With the qualifiers approaching rapidly, the GFA is expected to make a decisive call on Queiroz’s future before the Black Stars reconvene, with the possibility of a new coach now looking increasingly likely.
