Pitso Mosimane Responds to Ghana's Black Stars Approach
Pitso Mosimane has revealed that Ghana sounded him out for the Black Stars job – but the highly respected South African coach never viewed the contact as a serious proposal.
Speaking to South African broadcaster Robert Marawa, Mosimane lifted the lid on how close he came to the Ghana dugout. In his view, not very.
“A call from a Ghana official, for me, is not a really serious talk,” he said, underlining that what came from Accra fell well short of a formal offer or structured negotiation.
The sticking point, Mosimane explained, was the nature and length of the potential deal. The suggestion was clear: come in, take Ghana to the FIFA World Cup 2026, and then walk away.
His response was blunt.
“And also, do I really want to go to [the World Cup] for two months – three games? Maybe I don’t want that. Maybe Carlos [Queiroz] said, ‘Why not?’ Let me go have fun. There was some talk, but never a concrete approach or official letter, so it wasn’t serious.”
For Mosimane, who coached South Africa between 2010 and 2012 and has built a reputation as one of Africa’s most meticulous long-term planners, a short, tournament-only mandate was never going to be an easy sell. A second national team job might have appealed under different conditions; this one did not.
While the conversations with Mosimane fizzled out, Ghana moved decisively in another direction.
Queiroz Era Begins
The Ghana Football Association eventually turned to Carlos Queiroz, a man whose CV stretches from Portugal and Real Madrid to Iran and, more recently, Egypt, whom he led to the AFCON 2021 final.
Queiroz has been appointed as the new Black Stars head coach, replacing Otto Addo, who was dismissed in early March. The Portuguese veteran has signed a four-month contract – a clear signal that his remit is sharply focused on the World Cup.
He was unveiled to the media on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Alisa Hotel, stepping into one of African football’s most scrutinised roles with another major tournament looming.
A Brutal World Cup Assignment
There will be no gentle introduction. Ghana have been drawn in Group L at the FIFA World Cup 2026 alongside England, Croatia and Panama – a group that mixes European pedigree with awkward, unpredictable opposition.
For Queiroz, it is familiar terrain: a short runway, a high-stakes tournament, and a nation demanding impact on the global stage.
For Mosimane, it is another chapter that might have been. For Ghana, the question is simpler and far more urgent: can Queiroz turn a four-month audition into a World Cup campaign that justifies the gamble?
