Carlos Queiroz has been entrusted with the responsibility of guiding Ghana back to the Africa Cup of Nations after the Black Stars suffered the disappointment of missing the previous edition of the continental tournament.
The Ghana Football Association has retained the experienced Portuguese coach for a new phase of his tenure, with qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations emerging as an immediate priority for the national team.
Queiroz, 73, initially took charge of the Black Stars on a short term arrangement following the departure of Otto Addo and subsequently led Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the team progressed to the knockout stage before suffering a narrow defeat to Colombia.
The GFA later confirmed that it had reached an agreement with Queiroz for a new coaching mandate after discussions with the association and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. The decision brought an end to uncertainty surrounding his future after his original World Cup assignment had expired.
According to GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum, the renewed arrangement comes with a clear objective of ensuring that Ghana returns to Africa’s premier international football competition.
He said the Black Stars could not afford another absence from the AFCON after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, a setback that brought an end to Ghana’s long sequence of appearances at the competition.
“We had discussions before we concluded extending Carlos Queiroz’s contract, but the task is to guide the Black Stars back to the AFCON next year,” Asante Twum said in an interview with Asempa FM.
“We were not there last year, and we cannot afford to miss out this time around.”
Ghana’s route to the 2027 tournament will begin with a demanding Group C campaign against regional rivals Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia.
The Black Stars are scheduled to open their qualifying campaign against Côte d’Ivoire on September 24, 2026, before hosting The Gambia on September 29. The fixtures form part of the opening two rounds of the qualifying programme confirmed by the Confederation of African Football.
The encounter with Côte d’Ivoire is expected to provide an immediate test of Queiroz’s renewed mandate, with both sides carrying considerable continental pedigree and entering the campaign determined to secure an early advantage in the group.
Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON represented one of the most significant setbacks in the recent history of the Black Stars, as the four time African champions missed the tournament for the first time since 2004.
Queiroz therefore returns to the technical leadership of the team with qualification for the next edition firmly established as one of the central objectives of his new assignment.
His first spell also provided Ghana with an encouraging World Cup campaign. Under his leadership, the Black Stars reached the knockout stage of the 2026 tournament, marking their first progression beyond the group phase since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Ghana were eventually eliminated by Colombia in the Round of 32.
The GFA has pointed to Queiroz’s extensive international experience, technical expertise and familiarity with the Black Stars as important reasons for retaining him.
With the AFCON qualifiers now approaching, the Portuguese coach faces an immediate challenge of transforming the progress witnessed at the World Cup into sustained results on the African continent.
For Ghana, the objective is clear. After missing the previous AFCON tournament, the Black Stars must navigate a competitive Group C successfully and secure their return to the continental stage in 2027.
The opening fixtures against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia will therefore provide the first major test of whether Queiroz can deliver on the mandate that has brought him back to the Ghana bench.
The 2027 AFCON finals will be staged jointly by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
