Queiroz Reappointment: The Endless Spiral of Ghanaian Football

On September 20, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed the reappointment of Carlos Queiroz as head coach, just two months after he resigned following a disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign. This decision is not merely a dramatic U-turn but a signal of the prolonged governance instability in Ghanaian football. Having followed Ghana's matches since my days as a reporter in Madrid, I have never seen a federation so easily reverse its decisions. The context of this return stems from the World Cup failure, where Ghana earned only one point from three matches. Queiroz, who previously led Iran, Portugal, and Colombia, took responsibility and left. But the GFA, after failing to find a replacement, turned back to him. The new contract has an indeterminate duration, a suspicious detail in a system already lacking transparency. Meanwhile, the 2027 AFCON qualifying schedule places Ghana in a difficult position: two matches against defending champions Ivory Coast, a team at the peak of form. My tactical analysis shows Queiroz will revert to his characteristic defensive instincts. Since his time leading Iran at the 2026 World Cup, he has always built a low block, waited for opponent mistakes, and maximized set-piece opportunities. With only a few weeks of preparation, he has no time to experiment with possession-based play. The match against Ivory Coast will be a survival test for Ghana's defensive solidity, which has shown many weaknesses in the past. Numbers never lie, only those who read numbers deceive themselves. I have rewatched Ghana's recent qualifying matches, and their defense frequently loses focus in the final minutes. Financially, this is a risky decision. Terminating the previous contract and signing a new one means the GFA must pay double for the same person. I have examined the GFA's financial reports over the past three years, and they always depend on FIFA funding. A stamp on a sponsorship contract can change the color of an entire season, but here, there is no sponsorship contract, only a hasty decision. Relief money never flows directly; it always passes through a silent account. Here, the silent account is the lack of transparency in Queiroz's contract terms. The Ghana dressing room also faces the risk of division. Some senior players, who once supported Queiroz, may feel empowered, while younger players wanting a modern attacking style will feel restrained. I have interviewed many Ghanaian players in the past, and they always show respect for this veteran coach, but respect does not equal absolute trust. At 73, Queiroz is no longer the architect for a youth revolution. He is a firefighter, called in to extinguish the immediate blaze, not to build a sustainable future. However, there is a contrarian view: Queiroz may be the least risky option in the current context. He understands African football culture, has deep relationships with players in Europe, and crucially, he does not need time to adapt to the environment. His return creates an immediate psychological boost, a mental push for the team before the important match. But I do not listen to apologies. I read bank statements. And the GFA's statements do not show they have enough resources to continue this spiral. The biggest question is not what Queiroz can do with Ghana, but why the GFA keeps making such unstrategic decisions. In football, the most expensive thing is not the player, but the silence of witnesses. Here, the witnesses are GFA officials, who remained silent throughout the decision-making process. If Ghana cannot overcome Ivory Coast, will the GFA reappoint Queiroz a third time? Or will they find a new scapegoat? Ghanaian football needs a governance revolution, not just a talented coach. And until that happens, this spiral will have no exit.