Former Ghana Football Association chairman Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has urged critics to leave Carlos Queiroz alone after the Black Stars lost their opening two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
“Nobody should sack him, or nobody should put pressure on him,” the Hearts of Oak board member told Citi FM.
His backing comes as calls grow for the 73-year-old Portuguese to go after a 4-2 home defeat by The Gambia on 29 September 2026. Ghana missed the 2025 finals in Morocco and now risk sitting out a second straight Nations Cup.
How the Gambia game turned
Ghana led 2-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium through Ernest Nuamah and Félix Afena-Gyan. The Gambia replied with:
- A Muhammed Badamosi penalty and a goal from Omar Colley before half-time.
- Two second-half goals from substitute Ebrima Colley.
The defeat followed a 2-0 loss to Côte d’Ivoire the week before. Ghana are bottom of Group C with no points, while The Gambia have six from two games.
The case for keeping Queiroz
Nyaho-Tamakloe said the Gambia result was not the coach’s fault and described Queiroz as a good stopgap coach. He said a coach who took Ghana through the World Cup should not be thrown away, and that finding a replacement able to lift the squad would be hard.
Queiroz took over after the GFA dismissed Otto Addo on 31 March 2026. He was kept on after leading Ghana to the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup, the first time since 2010 that the Black Stars had got past the group stage.
Nyaho-Tamakloe has argued for continuity before:
- April 2026: After Addo’s exit, he suggested a stopgap coach for the World Cup, followed by a long-term appointment.
- July 2026: He told Graphic Sports that Queiroz should be kept on a short-term contract, with any extension tied to results.
Queiroz under pressure
Queiroz has refused to resign, saying Ghana must prepare better and win their remaining games. He has also pointed to a longer slump: the Gambia defeat was Ghana’s eighth successive Nations Cup qualifier without a win. Their last victory in qualifying was a 2-1 win over the Central African Republic on 7 September 2023.
Ghana have four group games left. The top two teams in each group qualify for the 2027 finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
