Carlos Queiroz Returns to Lead Ghana in 2027 AFCON Qualifiers

Carlos Queiroz will continue as head coach of Ghana after reaching an agreement with the Ghana Football Association for a new coaching mandate. The GFA announced the decision on Wednesday, September 2, confirming that the Portuguese will lead the Black Stars into the next phase of their international programme.

The appointment follows the end of Queiroz’s previous mandate, which included taking charge of Ghana at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup. That spell ended several weeks before the new agreement was announced, but discussions between Queiroz, the GFA and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation resulted in a decision to keep him in the role.

The new mandate will begin with the upcoming international window. The GFA did not disclose its length, salary or other specific terms, saying further details about the assignment and the Black Stars’ programme would be announced later. The announcement therefore confirms Queiroz’s position without setting out how long he will remain in charge.

The agreement also follows the resolution of financial issues connected to the coach’s initial tenure. Outstanding payments were cleared after discussions involving the football association and the sports ministry, allowing negotiations over the new arrangement to be completed. The financial settlement removed an obstacle that had surrounded the continuation of the Portuguese’s work with the national team.

The GFA identified Queiroz’s international experience, technical expertise and knowledge of the Black Stars as the main reasons for his return. His familiarity with the squad gives him continuity at a time when Ghana is moving into a new international cycle, while the new mandate gives the coaching staff a clear assignment beyond the short-term spell that preceded it.

The first major task is Ghana’s qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The Black Stars are scheduled to open that campaign in late September with a match against Ivory Coast in Bouaké. A home fixture against The Gambia in Accra is due to follow shortly afterwards, giving Queiroz two early opportunities to establish the team’s direction under the renewed agreement.

Those fixtures will place the focus on preparation, selection and the development of a team capable of progressing through the continental qualifying programme. Ghana’s next phase is not limited to the coach’s return. It also concerns how the squad is reshaped around players already familiar with Queiroz and those who may be brought into the programme as he works to build the side for the next major tournament cycle.

Queiroz’s return gives Ghana’s national team a settled technical lead as the 2027 AFCON campaign approaches. The GFA has framed the appointment as part of an effort to build a successful new chapter for the Black Stars, but the immediate measure of the arrangement will be the team’s work during the next international window and its response to the opening qualifiers in Bouaké and Accra.