Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie has expressed concerns about the decision to form a five-member committee to search for the next Black Stars head coach. He argues that the GFA should have identified potential replacements before Carlos Queiroz's departure. Queiroz left the team after Ghana's poor start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, with losses to Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia.
The GFA and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation established a five-member Technical Search Committee to find a suitable candidate for the vacant position. The committee is chaired by former GFA Vice President Fred Pappoe and includes former Black Stars internationals Anthony Baffoe and Stephen Appiah. Agbesi Dzakpasu, a legal practitioner and football administrator, and high-performance specialist Faisal Chibsah complete the panel.
The committee is expected to submit its report to the GFA by Friday, October 9. However, Afriyie believes the process should have started earlier. He cites France and Côte d'Ivoire as examples of countries that have been more proactive in preparing for changes in their coaching positions.
Afriyie suggests that the GFA should continuously monitor potential candidates, conduct background checks, and establish contact with coaches who could take over when needed. He points to Zinedine Zidane as an example of a candidate France could have already identified. Côte d'Ivoire's experience with Hervé Renard is another example.
For Afriyie, the responsibility for securing a coach for the Black Stars rests with the GFA, not the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. He emphasizes that the GFA is responsible for getting a coach and rejects the perception that the Ministry is deeply involved in the day-to-day process of selecting the national team coach.
The debate comes as Ghana prepares for a crucial November double-header against Somalia in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. The team needs to revive its campaign after two consecutive defeats. The five-member committee is expected to complete its assessment and submit its recommendation as the GFA works towards filling the vacant coaching position.
Ghana's football community eagerly awaits the committee's report and the GFA's decision on the next Black Stars coach. The team's performance in the upcoming matches will be crucial in determining the impact of the coaching change.
Key points
- George Afriyie questions the need for a committee to find the next Black Stars coach
- The GFA and Ministry of Sports established a five-member Technical Search Committee
- Ghana prepares for a crucial November double-header against Somalia in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers
