Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has backed a two-year contract for Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz, saying a longer agreement would give the national team continuity through the next Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The Portuguese coach’s current contract expires in July, and discussions over his future are at an advanced stage. No new agreement had been announced at the research cutoff, and the financial terms remain under negotiation.
Mr Adams said in a 3FM interview that stakeholder sentiment favoured retaining Queiroz after Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. He nevertheless acknowledged that he is not the final decision-maker.
The Ghana Football Association is responsible for the national team’s technical appointments, although government finances and supports the Black Stars and consequently has a legitimate interest in contract terms, performance targets and value for money.
Mr Adams said he had wanted a change in the technical team before Ghana completed its unsuccessful qualification campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The GFA preferred to finish the campaign before reviewing the team and deciding on a change.
Both sides later agreed on the appointment of Queiroz, but the minister believes the delay left the coach with limited preparation time before the World Cup. Ghana had also missed the competitive preparation that participation in the 2025 AFCON could have provided.
The Black Stars reached the World Cup round of 16 before their elimination. Mr Adams called the campaign a fair success because expectations had been low after the AFCON qualification failure.
His assessment will not end debate about the team’s performance. Supporters and football administrators will consider results, style of play, squad development, technical planning and whether the campaign met the resources committed to it.
A two-year deal would extend beyond a short tournament cycle and give the coach more time to build systems, integrate younger players and prepare for qualifiers. It would also create a financial obligation that should contain clear performance standards and termination provisions.
The GFA and government should publish the final duration, salary, bonuses, objectives and responsibility for payment once negotiations conclude, subject to legitimate personal-data and commercial limits. Public funding makes transparency a central issue.
The contract should also clarify the roles of assistant coaches, medical and performance staff, scouting structures and domestic-league monitoring. National-team progress depends on more than the head coach’s name.
Queiroz’s short preparation period can reasonably be considered when evaluating his first tournament, but it cannot become a permanent explanation. A renewed contract would give him more time and therefore create higher expectations for planning and results.
Mr Adams declined to state proposed financial terms while talks continue. That restraint is appropriate during negotiation, but a completed public contract should be followed by a clear explanation of the commitments accepted on Ghana’s behalf.
The minister’s comments establish government’s preference but do not amount to a completed contract. Negotiations were continuing, and Mr Adams declined to disclose proposed financial terms.
Queiroz’s existing agreement expires in July. His continued tenure, the length of any renewal and the contractual targets will become final only after the GFA and the coach conclude and announce a new agreement.
Mr Adams said discussions had reached an advanced stage and stakeholder sentiment favoured retaining the Portuguese coach beyond the current contract.
He said the current negotiations were focused on the terms of a possible renewal.
