Ghana have appointed Carlos Queiroz as head coach, the country’s football association said ​on Monday, with the Portuguese set to ‌make his fifth consecutive World Cup appearance.

Queiroz, 73, left his role as Oman coach last month ​after the side failed to qualify for ​the 2026 World Cup.

Ghana were left without ⁠a coach 72 days before the World ​Cup kickoff after parting company with Otto ​Addo following friendly defeats by Austria and Germany in March.

“The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association, working ​with all key stakeholders, has appointed Carlos ​Queiroz as head coach of the senior national team, ‌the ⁠Black Stars,” the GFA said in a statement.

Queiroz led Portugal to the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup and later ​coached Iran ​at the ⁠last three editions of the tournament, recording three wins in 13 ​matches.

Born in Mozambique, the former goalkeeper ​has ⁠also held coaching positions with Egypt, Japan, Colombia, and South Africa, and previously led Portugal in ⁠the ​early 1990s.

Ghana have been ​drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, England and Panama

-Reuters

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Nike is investigating a design issue affecting several national team kits ahead of this year’s soccer World Cup, ​British media reported on Friday, after problems with the ‌shirts became visible during last month’s international break.

Bulging around the shoulder seams was visible on shirts worn by teams including England, France ​and Uruguay during the international window.

International Friendly – England v Uruguay – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – March 27, 2026 England’s Cole Palmer reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo 

A Nike spokesperson told ​The Guardian newspaper that the company had identified a “minor ⁠issue” with the kits, adding that performance was unaffected ​but the “overall aesthetic is not where it needs to be.”

The ​issue is present on both match shirts worn by players and replica versions sold to supporters, according to the BBC, with some fans raising ​concerns.

The American sportswear giant produces kits for a number ​of World Cup teams, including co-hosts the United States and Canada, as ‌well ⁠as Brazil, the Netherlands and Croatia.

The kits have been designed with cooling technology to help players cope with high temperatures expected at the tournament, which kicks off on June 11 ​and is also ​co-hosted by ⁠Mexico.

The issue comes as the struggling company faces questions over its product innovation and works through excess ​inventory after a string of weak earnings.

Chief ​Executive Elliott ⁠Hill has pledged to refocus Nike on core sports, and the company said on Friday it had appointed Andy Caine ⁠as chief ​innovation officer.

Nike did not immediately respond ​to a Reuters request for comment.

-Reuters

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Jean-Jacques Ndala has been dramatically dropped from the list of match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in what many observers are describing as a “career-defining red card” following the fallout from the controversial AFCON 2025 Final.

The Congolese referee, once regarded as one of Africa’s elite officials, has reportedly been excluded from FIFA’s final World Cup roster just two months before the tournament—despite having been part of the preparatory pool.

From Centre Stage to Sidelines

Ndala’s fall from contention is closely tied to his handling of the explosive final between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat—a match that has since become one of the most disputed in recent African football history.

The encounter was riddled with controversial decisions, eventually leading to a temporary walk-off by Senegalese players. Matters escalated further when the result was later overturned, placing Ndala’s officiating under intense scrutiny.

Unverified reports have also alleged that the referee may have acted under “institutional instructions,” including directives not to issue red cards to Senegal players after the disruption—claims that remain unproven but have added to the controversy surrounding the match.

In the immediate aftermath, the Confederation of African Football cleared Ndala of any wrongdoing and continued to appoint him to matches, signalling institutional confidence in his competence.

FIFA, however, appears to have taken a different view.

By omitting Ndala from its final list of referees for the World Cup, world football’s governing body has effectively overruled CAF’s stance—raising questions about alignment between continental and global football authorities on refereeing standards and accountability.

With Ndala out, Africa’s central refereeing representation at the 2026 World Cup will now include:

• Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
• Amin Mohamed Omar (Egypt)
• Pierre Ghislain Atcho (Gabon)
• Dahane Beida (Mauritania)

The list reflects FIFA’s emphasis on consistency and recent performance, particularly in high-stakes matches.

For Ndala, a FIFA-listed referee since 2013, the decision represents a significant personal and professional setback. Once seen as a strong candidate to officiate at the World Cup, his exclusion underscores how a single high-profile match can reshape a referee’s trajectory.

More broadly, the development highlights the growing scrutiny of officiating in African football and the increasing willingness of FIFA to take independent decisions—even when they diverge from continental bodies.

In the end, while players receive red cards on the pitch, Ndala’s has come off it—issued not in a moment, but in the lingering shadow of a final that refuses to fade from memory.

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