Queiroz rejects calls to resign after Black Stars collapse against Gambia

Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has dismissed calls for his resignation following Ghana’s disappointing 4-2 defeat to The Gambia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Ghana surrendered a two-goal advantage at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, as The Gambia produced a second-half comeback to secure all three points.

Despite the result, Queiroz said stepping down would not address the broader challenges confronting Ghanaian football, insisting that the defeat should instead provide lessons for the team and his technical staff.

“When we have one result like this, and the option is to resign, it is the easiest solution,” he said.

“If you believe that with the coach resigning, you can change the situation of football in Ghana, I’ll be the first one to resign. I don’t have that belief.”

The Portuguese coach said any decision regarding his position ultimately rests with the Ghana Football Association and would depend on an assessment of the team’s results and performance.

“That is a decision that should be for the board of the federation to analyse and decide with me. The future of one coach is always in the hands of God and the results,” he said.

Queiroz also rejected suggestions that the heavy defeat should define his record as a coach.

“And this defeat doesn’t make me a loser,” he said. “This defeat makes me more alert to the lessons that we take from the games and what we have to do in the future, with me or without me.”

He urged the team to use the setback as an opportunity to identify and correct its weaknesses rather than dwell on the outcome.

“You win, or you learn,” Queiroz said.

The Black Stars appeared firmly in control during the opening half after Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan scored to give Ghana a 2-0 lead.

However, The Gambia turned the game around after the break, scoring four goals to complete a remarkable comeback.

Queiroz said Ghana had performed well during the first half but lost control of the match after errors allowed the visitors to gain momentum.

“In the first half we did it much better. We led the game, we controlled the game. We scored two goals when it was the belief of the staff, the players and even the fans that we go for three or four,” he said.

With Ghana’s remaining qualifiers still ahead, the coach said the team must use the defeat to improve its preparation and organisation.

“As a result, we cannot take a step back. But what we can do is to be better prepared, better organised for the next games and win the next games. This is what we have,” he said.