Newly appointed technical advisor for the Black Stars, Winfred Schaffer, has expressed disappointment over the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
For the first time in two decades, the four-time African champions will miss out on the continent’s premier football event, having finished at the bottom of their group. Ghana managed just three points, with three defeats and three draws.
Reflecting on the Black Stars’ absence from the tournament, which is set to take place in Morocco later this year, the German coach—who led Cameroon to AFCON glory in 2002—shared his sadness.
“I am a good follower of African football due to my previous experience with Cameroon and my winning of the African Cup of Nations title, and I am sad about Ghana’s absence, and this is all I can say now,” he said in an interview as reported by AfricaSoccer.
In a bid to strengthen the technical team ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has appointed Desmond Offei, the current head coach of Ghana’s U20 team, to the technical staff.
He replaces Joseph Lauman and will work alongside assistants John Paintsil and Fatawu Dauda, who remain under head coach Otto Addo.
Additionally, Kris Perquy and Gregory De Grauwe have joined the technical team as the team’s psychologist and video analyst, respectively.
The Black Stars will play their next competitive fixtures against Chad and Madagascar in March as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.