The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is reconstituting the Black Stars management committee ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah has been approached to join.
GFA President Kurt Okraku is leading the efforts to reorganize the committee, with sources indicating that four individuals are being considered for roles.
These individuals include Executive Council member Dr. Randy Abbey, who is expected to chair the committee, Appiah, Richard Duah Nsenkyire (CEO of Samartex), and Samuel Aboabri (Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Football Association).
During the birthday celebration of Dr. Abbey, Appiah was engaged by the FA President regarding the position.
Appiah’s inclusion would mark his return to the committee after being listed as a member in 2022, although he did not attend any meetings. Despite expressing concerns about past appointments and how they were handled, Appiah remains open to accepting the role depending on the outcome of discussions.
He has emphasized that his concerns are not personal but about the process and ensuring proper treatment for everyone involved.
Nsenkyire’s appointment is also under consideration, though there are mixed reactions from those close to him regarding his inclusion.
His dissatisfaction stems from the GFA’s financial treatment of Samartex, which received only $15,000 for their participation in the CAF Champions League, half the standard $30,000 given to other clubs. Despite this, Nsenkyire is still consulting on whether he will accept the role.
The GFA had also considered other candidates such as Kwame Ayew and Anthony Baffoe before finalizing this list. One of the contributing factors to the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for AFCON 2025 was believed to be a lack of leadership direction.
Additionally, the GFA is looking into appointing a technical director to support Otto Addo, as Ghana aims for a second consecutive World Cup appearance under Kurt Okraku’s leadership.
The FA is also considering a team psychologist, a position vacant since 2019, and possible changes to the Team Manager role.
These appointments and discussions may be finalized before the next World Cup qualifiers in March 2025.