Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has apologised to Ghanaians but insisted his resignation would not solve the problems in Ghana football, after Ghana threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 to The Gambia in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
The defeat leaves Ghana bottom of Group C with zero points from two matches, having scored two goals and conceded six.
It came five days after the Black Stars lost 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké in their opening Group C game. Ghana have now gone eight straight AFCON qualifying matches without a win.
Speaking after the match, Queiroz said the decision on his future rests with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) board.
Queiroz responds to resignation calls after Gambia defeat
The loss intensified calls for the Portuguese coach to be removed. Queiroz said stepping down would be the easy option but would not change the state of the game in Ghana.
“When results like this happen, the option to resign is the most easy solution. If you believe that if the coach resigns, you can change the situation of football in Ghana, I will be the first one to resign,” he said, as reported by MyJoyOnline.
He added that the GFA must “analyse and decide” whether to keep him or end his contract.
Queiroz Says Resignation Won’t Fix Ghana Football After 4-2 Home Loss to Gambia [VIDEO]
🇬🇭🗣️ Carlos Queiroz says he would be the first to step down if his resignation would genuinely help change the situation of Ghana football.
He added that the decision on his future should be made by the GFA board after assessing the situation. pic.twitter.com/tVRnohqlYP
— Michael Oti Adjei (@OtiAdjei) September 29, 2026
Queiroz apologises to Black Stars supporters
Queiroz also offered an apology on behalf of his technical team and players.
“Myself, the staff and all the players were deeply sad about the result and we say sorry to the Ghana supporters,” he said, according to 3News.
He pointed out that Ghana’s winless run in AFCON qualifiers did not begin under him. “This issue doesn’t start today. It doesn’t start yesterday. We have 8 games. The last time Ghana won one game was 8 games before,” he said.
How Ghana lost a 2-0 lead to The Gambia
Ghana started brightly, with Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan scoring to put the Black Stars 2-0 up after 33 minutes, according to the Ghana Football Association’s official match report.
The Gambia responded almost immediately. A Muhammed Badamosi penalty pulled one back before the break, and the visitors levelled shortly after.
The Scorpions went ahead in the second half and added a fourth late in the game to seal a famous win in Accra. Al Jazeera reported that frustrated supporters threw bottles onto the pitch as the collapse unfolded.
AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Group C standings
After two rounds of matches, Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia lead the group while Ghana and Somalia are yet to pick up a point.
- Côte d’Ivoire – 6 points (2 games)
- The Gambia – 6 points (2 games)
- Somalia – 0 points (2 games)
- Ghana – 0 points (2 games), 2 goals scored, 6 conceded
Only the top two teams in each group qualify for AFCON 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
What the Gambia defeat means for Ghana fans
For supporters, the result deepens fears of a second straight AFCON absence. Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 tournament, their first miss since 2004.
The Black Stars are now six points behind the top two with four games left, meaning there is little room for further slip-ups. Earlier this month, Ghana also lost 2-0 to Ivory Coast in Bouaké, where Queiroz promised improvement.
What happens next for Queiroz and the Black Stars
Ghana have four Group C matches remaining, with a maximum of 12 points still available. The two games against Somalia are widely seen as must-win fixtures.
Attention now turns to the GFA, which Queiroz says must decide on his future. As of Wednesday morning, the GFA had not announced any decision on the coach.
Key details at a glance
- Result: Ghana 2-4 The Gambia, AFCON 2027 qualifier, Group C
- Date and venue: Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Accra Sports Stadium
- Ghana led 2-0 through Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan
- Ghana’s record: 2 games, 0 points, 2 scored, 6 conceded
- Ghana have gone eight AFCON qualifiers without a win
- Queiroz apologised but said resigning won’t solve Ghana football’s problems
- Top two in the group qualify for AFCON 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
FAQs
What was the score between Ghana and Gambia?
The Gambia beat Ghana 4-2 at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29, 2026, coming from 2-0 down.
Has Carlos Queiroz resigned as Black Stars coach?
No. Queiroz said his resignation would not solve Ghana football’s problems and that the GFA board must decide his future.
Can Ghana still qualify for AFCON 2027?
Yes, mathematically. Ghana have four games left and 12 points available, but they are six points behind the top two teams in Group C.
Ghana’s 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia has left the Black Stars bottom of Group C and extended their winless AFCON qualifying run to eight games. Carlos Queiroz has apologised but says quitting will not fix Ghana football, leaving the GFA to decide his fate as the team faces four must-win matches.
