Carlos Queiroz is no longer Ghana's national team coach

"The future of the Black Stars will not be built on the pitch alone, the success of the Black Stars must begin off the pitch by creating the best possible conditions to prepare, protect and develop Ghana's exceptional football talent," Queiroz said. With this statement, he alluded to structural problems that, in his view, extend beyond sporting performance on the field.

Sportingly, the record of the 73-year-old at the World Cup was sobering. Ghana were eliminated in the round of the last 16 in Kansas City against Colombia. This brought an end to the tournament for the Black Stars considerably earlier than the expectations in the country, which had hoped for another run to the quarterfinals following previous World Cup appearances.

Sporting record and career

Queiroz looks back on a remarkable coaching career. According to the report, the World Cup was already his fifth consecutive tournament as head coach of a national team. He is thus one of the few coaches who have worked at the highest international level for more than two decades.

The separation between the federation and the coach did not go smoothly. Queiroz had publicly held the GFA responsible for the general conditions under which the team had worked. He also indicated that preparation for the tournament had not been optimal. The federation initially did not comment on the allegations.

Open question over succession

It is unclear who will coach the Black Stars in the future. With the elimination at the World Cup and the foreseeable upheaval, the succession is likely to be the central personnel decision for the Ghanaian Football Federation in the coming weeks. The federation must find a successor who will set up the team for the upcoming qualifying matches.

The Queiroz case also throws a spotlight on the difficult general conditions faced by African national teams. Coaching changes in the middle of World Cup cycles, changing federation structures and often tense personnel situations are seen in the region as recurring challenges for coaches and players.

Regarding the reasons for Queiroz's short tenure and the exact circumstances of his criticism of the federation, there were initially no further reports. An official statement from the GFA on the allegations was also initially pending. Key questions about the future of Ghanaian football therefore remain unanswered for the time being.

With Queiroz's departure, a chapter shaped by the expectation of building on earlier World Cup successes comes to a close for Ghana for the time being. The coming weeks will show whether the federation opts for continuity or ventures on a fresh start with a new coaching staff.