The Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation have formed a five-member Search Committee to find a new head coach for the Black Stars. This decision was made during a meeting between the GFA leadership and the Ministry in Accra on Friday, 2 October 2026. The committee will be chaired by Fred Pappoe, a former GFA vice-president with extensive experience in football administration and governance.
The committee consists of several notable figures in Ghanaian football. Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) general secretary Anthony Baffoe, legal practitioner and football administrator Agbesi Dzakpasu, former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah, and FIFA high-performance specialist Faisal Chibsah will join Pappoe on the committee. Their task is to identify, assess, and recommend a suitable candidate for the vacant Black Stars coaching position.
The committee has been given a tight deadline to submit its report to the GFA by Friday, 9 October 2026. The Black Stars job became vacant on Thursday, 1 October, following the resignation of Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz. Queiroz stepped down after Ghana's poor start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with the Black Stars losing their opening two Group C matches against Ivory Coast and Gambia.
The GFA and the Sports Ministry are expected to appoint a new coach before the Black Stars' next international assignment in November. Ghana are scheduled to face Somalia in a double-header at the Accra Sports Stadium as their bid to qualify for the 2027 AFCON continues. The appointment of a new coach is seen as crucial to the team's chances of success in the qualifying campaign.
The committee's formation comes after a crisis meeting between the GFA and the Ministry of Sports. The meeting was held to discuss the way forward for the Black Stars after Queiroz's resignation. The GFA has also been ordered to dissolve the Black Stars technical team following Queiroz's exit.
Fred Pappoe's appointment as committee chair is seen as a strategic move by the GFA and the Ministry of Sports. Pappoe brings a wealth of experience in football administration and governance, having served as a former GFA vice-president. His expertise is expected to be invaluable in the search for a new coach.
The search for a new Black Stars coach is expected to be a challenging one. The GFA and the Ministry of Sports will be looking for a coach who can lead the team to success in the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign and beyond. The committee's recommendation will be crucial in determining the future of the Black Stars.
Key points
- The Ghana Football Association and Ministry of Sports have formed a five-member committee to find a new head coach for the Black Stars.
- The committee is chaired by Fred Pappoe and includes several notable figures in Ghanaian football.
- The committee has been given a deadline to submit its report to the GFA by Friday, 9 October 2026.
