Ghana's football authorities have brought back Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the Black Stars, just two months after the veteran tactician stepped down in the aftermath of the national team's World Cup campaign.
The 73-year-old Portuguese coach had only taken charge of Ghana two months before the tournament began, stepping into the role after Otto Addo was dismissed following heavy defeats to Austria and Germany. Despite the short preparation window, Queiroz led Ghana through the group stage of the World Cup, a run that included a goalless draw against England, before the team was eliminated by Colombia in the round of 32.
Given the turbulent period Ghanaian football has experienced recently — including the embarrassment of failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations — reaching the knockout rounds of the World Cup was viewed as a respectable outcome rather than a disappointment. Nevertheless, Queiroz opted to leave his post immediately after the exit in July.
Now, in a surprising turn of events, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed that Queiroz will return to lead the Black Stars into their next phase of development.
"The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Carlos Queiroz for his appointment as Head Coach of the Black Stars for the next phase of the team's programme," the GFA said in an official statement.
The federation expressed confidence that Queiroz's background on the international stage makes him the right man to guide Ghana forward. "The GFA believes Queiroz's extensive international experience, technical expertise and knowledge of the Black Stars position him strongly to lead the team into this next chapter," the statement continued.
The GFA added that more information regarding Queiroz's new mandate and the team's upcoming schedule would be released in the near future, stating that both parties are now focused on "building a successful new phase for Ghana on the international stage."
Queiroz brings with him a wealth of experience from previous World Cup campaigns, having previously managed Portugal, Iran and Egypt on football's biggest stage. When he initially left the Ghana job, he remarked that "success must start off the field, by creating the best possible environment to prepare, protect and develop Ghana's extraordinary football talent."
His immediate priority in this second spell will be steering Ghana through Africa Cup of Nations qualification, with the campaign set to begin in September. The Black Stars are eager to secure a return to the continent's premier competition after missing out on the 2025 edition.
Ghana has been placed in Group C for the qualifiers, where they will face Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Somalia. The presence of Ivory Coast, one of the continent's traditional powerhouses, ensures a challenging path for Queiroz and his squad as they look to restore Ghana's standing in African football.
With his previous stint delivering a credible World Cup showing despite limited preparation time, expectations will now turn to whether Queiroz can build sustained success with a fuller mandate and more time to implement his methods. The coming qualification campaign will serve as an early test of that project.
Based on reporting from The Independent.