Carlos Queiroz is set to return to Ghana this week with a clear mandate: guide the Black Stars through their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign and restore Ghana’s place at the continental showpiece.
The 73-year-old Portuguese coach has been reappointed following his brief but successful spell with the national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he led Ghana into the knockout stage.
Queiroz is expected to be formally reintroduced to Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams upon his arrival before meeting the media to outline his plans for the Black Stars.
Although the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has yet to officially announce the terms of his new contract, the two sides are understood to have reached an agreement in principle for an initial one-year deal.
The arrangement is expected to include an extension if Queiroz succeeds in securing Ghana’s qualification for the 2027 AFCON, making the upcoming qualifiers crucial to his long-term prospects with the team.
His first major test will come later this month when the Black Stars begin their qualifying campaign against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké.
Ghana will face the Ivorians at the Stade de la Paix on September 24 before returning home three days later to take on The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The fixtures will provide Queiroz with an immediate opportunity to build on the momentum generated from Ghana’s World Cup campaign while beginning the process of securing qualification for another major tournament.
The Black Stars missed out on the previous AFCON tournament in Morocco, increasing the pressure on the team to avoid another absence from Africa’s premier international competition.
Queiroz’s return also comes with expectations that the coach can provide stability to a team that has experienced considerable changes in its technical setup in recent years.
His previous World Cup campaign, which produced Ghana’s best showing at the tournament since 2010, has given him an advantage in terms of familiarity with the squad and the expectations surrounding the national team.
With the AFCON qualifiers approaching rapidly, attention will now turn to squad selection, preparation and whether Queiroz can once again deliver results on the international stage.
For the Portuguese coach, qualification for the 2027 AFCON could be the key to extending his second stint with the Black Stars beyond the initial one-year arrangement.
