The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has confirmed that the decision to retain Otto Addo as head coach of the Black Stars will undergo a review.
Addo, who signed a three-year contract in March 2024 with an option for an additional two years, has faced intense criticism after failing to lead Ghana to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)—the first time in two decades the team has missed the tournament.
Following the team’s failure to secure a single win in the qualifiers, there have been widespread calls for a complete overhaul of the technical staff. However, as the Black Stars prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has reinforced the coaching setup.
German coach Winfried Schäfer has been brought in as a technical advisor for the Black Stars and as the technical director for the association. Additionally, Black Satellites coach Desmond Ofei has joined the technical team, while John Paintsil and Fatau Dauda continue in their roles as second assistant coach and goalkeepers’ trainer, respectively.
Kris Perquy has been appointed as the team psychologist, and Gregory De Grauwe will serve as the video analyst.
Despite these changes, Sports Minister Kofi Adams has expressed concerns over the GFA’s approach to decision-making regarding coaching appointments.
Speaking in an interview with Woezor TV, he emphasized that the government, not the GFA, funds the national team’s technical staff, and therefore, any decisions should involve state consultation.
“First of all, the GFA doesn’t pay the Black Stars technical team; the government does, so you cannot go and appoint someone and say this is what I have appointed to manage a team that does not belong to you,” he said.
“The national team does not belong to the GFA, and neither do they pay the coaches. It is the state that pays, so nobody can sit anywhere and say that when they decide, they cannot consult anybody in making that decision. If that is the mindset of how they approach their work, then they will have issues.
“The country has only asked the GFA to manage the national teams, and that is why the state pays the coaches and still funds all the qualifiers. So how do you appoint somebody that the state will pay but don’t involve the state in decision-making?” he quizzed.
With Ghana missing out on AFCON 2025, the Black Stars will shift their focus to the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they will face Chad and Madagascar in the next round of matches next month.
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