GFA unlikely to extend Carlos Queiroz contract due to demands despite calls for continuity
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is reportedly unlikely to extend the contract of Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz, despite growing calls for the veteran Portuguese coach to remain in charge of the national team.
Queiroz was appointed Ghana’s head coach in April, only 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 with the GFA, with his immediate mandate being to lead the Black Stars at the global tournament.
Although Ghana were eliminated in the Round of 32, Queiroz achieved a notable milestone by guiding the team to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
The achievement has sparked calls from sections of the football fraternity and supporters for the experienced tactician to be retained and given the opportunity to build on the progress made at the World Cup.
Following Ghana’s elimination, Queiroz appeared to indicate that his time with the Black Stars had come to an end. However, he later clarified in an interview that his social media post had been misinterpreted and was not a confirmation of his departure.
President John Mahama has also publicly backed the idea of retaining the Portuguese coach.
Speaking during a visit to the Sports Stadium in July, Mahama urged the relevant authorities to convince Queiroz to continue with the national team, arguing that continuity could improve Ghana’s chances 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 said.
However, despite the reported desire of the GFA to keep Queiroz, negotiations have reportedly been complicated by the coach’s demands, casting further doubt over his future.
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 also been affected by the departure of assistant coach Roger De Sa, who joined Queiroz’s technical team ahead of the World Cup.
De Sa has since left the Black Stars after being appointed technical director of Cape Town Spurs. His departure means Queiroz would have to make changes to his technical team should he remain in charge.
With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers fast approaching, the GFA is under increasing pressure to resolve the coaching situation and provide clarity before the Black Stars regroup.
Ghana are scheduled to return to competitive action in September when they 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 secure a return to Africa’s biggest football tournament, the GFA will be eager to avoid prolonged uncertainty in the dugout as preparations for the qualifiers begin.