Queiroz bids farewell to Ghana: 'We honored the country's colors'

Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz has bid farewell to Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, expressing pride in his tenure despite their elimination from the 2026 World Cup.

In a message posted on Instagram, Queiroz reflected on his time with the team, stating, "Football, like life, teaches us an eternal lesson: you win or you learn." He asserted that he closes this chapter with "pride" but also with the "healthy dissatisfaction" of someone who wished to go further. "To the fans, we cannot claim complete sporting satisfaction, but we can say with pride that we honored the colors of Ghana and restored the respect and credibility of the Black Stars on the biggest stage of football," he wrote.

Queiroz, 73, was reportedly hired on a short-term contract tied to Ghana's World Cup participation. The Black Stars reached the round of 16 for the first time since 2010 before losing 1-0 to Colombia. Queiroz emphasized that the future success of the team depends on more than just on-field performance. "The future of the Black Stars will not be built only on the field. Success must begin off it, by creating the best possible environment to prepare, protect, and develop Ghana's extraordinary football talent," he stated.

He also conveyed his gratitude to the Ghana Football Association for the opportunity, calling it an "honor," and expressed his "deepest gratitude" to the players and staff for their "courage, commitment, and unwavering dedication to the team." Despite Queiroz's farewell message, the Ghana Football Association stated that it has not received a formal resignation. Henry Asante Twum, the Communications Director of the Federation, confirmed that Queiroz had sent the same message to federation members and his technical staff before publishing it. The federation is scheduled to meet to evaluate the World Cup technical report and decide on potential discussions regarding the coach's continuity.