Carlos QueirozThe Ghana Football Association (GFA) is reportedly unlikely to extend the contract of Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz despite calls for the veteran Portuguese trainer to remain in charge of the national team.Queiroz was appointed as Ghanas head coach in April, just weeks before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.The 73-year-old signed a four-month contract that is set to expire in August, with his immediate task being to guide the Black Stars at the global tournament.Despite Ghanas elimination in the Round of 32, Queirozs tenure produced a significant achievement as he led the Black Stars to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since the 2010 edition in South Africa.That feat prompted calls from sections of the football fraternity and supporters for the former Real Madrid coach to be retained and given the opportunity to build on the progress made at the tournament.Following Ghanas exit from the World Cup, Queiroz appeared to suggest that he would be leaving his post. However, he later clarified in a widely circulated interview that his social media post had been misinterpreted and did not amount to a confirmation of his departure.President John Mahama also publicly expressed his desire for the Portuguese coach to continue in charge of the Black Stars.Speaking during a visit to the Sports Stadium in July, Mahama called on the relevant authorities to persuade Queiroz to remain with the national team, insisting that continuity could give Ghana a better chance of competing for major 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, despite the GFAs interest in retaining the experienced coach, negotiations have reportedly been complicated by Queirozs demands, creating uncertainty over his future with the Black Stars.Meanwhile, Executive Council member Nana Oduro Sarfo has further hinted that the FA remains in talks with other coaches amid Queiroz’s uncertain future.”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 situation has been further complicated by the departure of assistant coach Roger De Sa, who joined Queirozs technical team ahead of the World Cup.De Sa has since left his position with the Black Stars after being appointed technical director of Cape Town Spurs, meaning Queiroz would potentially have to rebuild part of his technical team if he remains in charge.With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers fast approaching, the GFA is now facing increasing pressure to resolve the coaching situation and settle on a permanent head coach before the national team regroups.Ghana will return to action in September when the Black Stars begin their qualification campaign for the 2027 AFCON, having missed the previous edition of the tournament in Morocco.The Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Somalia.With Ghana determined to return to Africas premier football competition, the GFA will be keen to avoid uncertainty in the dugout as preparations for the qualifiers get underway.Source: Ekow Amoasi
