Carlos Queiroz Leaves Ghana After Being Eliminated from the World Cup

Carlos Queiroz resigned from his position as head coach of the Ghana national football team after only three months. The experienced manager announced that he made this decision following the team's elimination from the World Cup. The 73-year-old Queiroz was appointed to the role by the Ghana Football Federation in April 2026. During his career, the Portuguese coach, who has managed national teams of countries such as Iran, Portugal, and Egypt, experienced his fifth consecutive World Cup. His departure came at a time when the number of vacant managerial positions was increasing following the tournament, initiating a new search process in Ghanaian football.

Ghana competed in Group L at the World Cup and finished the group in third place with a victory against Panama, a draw with England, and a defeat against Croatia. Following these results, Ghana advanced to the knockout stage and faced Colombia in the first elimination round. However, losing 1-0 to Colombia, the Ghana national team had to bid farewell to the tournament at this stage. While the team scored only two goals throughout the tournament under Queiroz's management, they also conceded three goals. Despite Ghana advancing to the knockout stage, the style of football played and the cautious tactics used in defense were frequently discussed and questioned by football circles.

Publishing a farewell message on social media following his resignation, Queiroz expressed his great pride in having been at the helm of the Ghana national team. The experienced manager, arguing that Ghanaian football, which holds significant successes in its history, has regained its respect and credibility on the world stage, praised the courage of his players and the dedication of his staff. Queiroz specifically emphasized that future successes cannot be limited to on-field performance alone. He added that to preserve and develop the extraordinary football talents Ghana possesses and to provide them with the best environment, a strong infrastructure must be built off the pitch as well.

The Ghana Football Federation has not yet announced who will replace Queiroz, leading to intense speculation in the country about who the new manager will be. Another issue as important as appointing a new coach is the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers starting in September. The Black Stars will compete against Ivory Coast, Gambia, and Somalia in Group C to participate in the tournament to be held in East Africa in 2027. Moreover, Ghana lost the right to participate in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, missing out on this major organization for the first time since 2004. For this reason, the upcoming qualifying matches will be of great importance for Ghanaian football.

Carlos Queiroz's resignation was not the only managerial departure in this World Cup. Other managers who were unsuccessful during the tournament and failed to bring expected results to their countries also left their positions. Along with Queiroz, Jordan, who finished fourth in Group J and made an early exit from the tournament, also announced that they parted ways with Jamal Sellami. These developments once again highlighted the immense pressure brought by the organization and the huge expectations of countries on the international stage. Ghana also needs to draw the necessary lessons from this process and re-establish its competitive claim in the African continent.