Ghana Football Association (GFA) has outlined a plan to appoint a new coach for the Black Stars and has formed a five-member search committee for this purpose.
The decision comes in the aftermath of Chris Hughton’s dismissal from the position on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, following Ghana’s disappointing performance at AFCON 2023.
The search committee, led by Vice President of the Ghana Football Association, Mark Addo, includes Legal Practitioner and former Ghana School of Law lecturer Ace Ankomah (Esq.) as Vice Chairman.
Professor Joseph Kwame Mintah, Director of Coaching Education at the GFA; Ghana football legend Opoku Nti, and William Caesar Kartey, Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, also serve as members.
The GFA has assigned the search committee a three-week timeline to assess and recommend the next Black Stars coach to the Executive Council for approval.
Additionally, the GFA plans to publish a detailed job description for the head coach position of the Black Stars in the near future.
“However, an abbreviated version of the criteria for the selection of the next head coach are as follows:
- The potential Head Coach should be a proven winner in coaching Top Men’s National Team or Club Football
- Must have a football philosophy that aligns with or compliments our DNA
- Must hold the highest football licence in the world with over 15 years of coaching experience
- Proven track record in team reconstruction, organisation and development of young talent
- Proven disciplinarian, tactician and leader skills.”
Sports Ministry to announce plan and roadmap for revival of Black Stars
In a related development, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has bemoaned the Black Stars’ poor performance at the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
In the statement, the Sports Ministry expressed massive disappointment over the Black Stars’ failure to progress from the group stage for the second consecutive AFCON edition.
The Black Stars lost 1-2 to Cape Verde and drew 2-2 with Egypt and Mozambique, respectively, ranking third in Group B with two points.
Following back-to-back exits from the AFCON, the Sports Ministry said there was a need to restructure Ghana’s football system, stating, “This points to the urgent need for a comprehensive diagnosis and restructuring of Ghana football.”
It thus assured that: “In the coming days, the Ministry, in consultation with national team stakeholders, will announce a strategic plan to identify the causes and the road map towards the revival of the Black Stars.
“We recognise the urgent necessity to address the underlying issues and are poised to embrace a holistic approach towards rebuilding and reviving our football. This is crucial and pertinent, not only for the Black Stars and the followers of Ghana football but also for every aspiring young Ghanaian footballer.”