The Ministry of Sports and Recreation in Ghana has initiated a major overhaul of the Black Stars' technical team and management committee following the resignation of head coach Carlos Queiroz. This decision was made during a high-level meeting between the ministry and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Friday, 2 October. The move comes after Ghana's disappointing start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Carlos Queiroz resigned after the team's poor performance, which included a 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast and a 4-2 loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. These results have left Ghana without a point from their first two Group C matches. The four-time African champions are now at risk of missing a second successive Africa Cup of Nations tournament, having failed to qualify for the 2025 finals in Morocco.
The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has issued seven directives aimed at restructuring the team's management. One of the key directives is the dissolution of the Black Stars' technical team and all existing national team management committees. This move is intended to pave the way for a new structure that will improve the team's performance.
A new National Technical Management Committee will be established, comprising two government-appointed experts and two nominees from the GFA. The GFA has been instructed not to appoint the next Black Stars coach without consulting this new committee. This measure aims to ensure that the team's management is more effective and accountable.
The existing national team management structure will be replaced by two committees – one responsible for men’s football and another for women’s football. Additionally, the ministry has called for the restoration of state-provided accommodation for the Black Stars head coach. These changes are intended to improve the team's working conditions and overall performance.
The ministry has also emphasized the need to consolidate Ghana’s national youth team structure, with the government expected to participate in the selection of development coaches for the Under-15, Under-17, and Under-20 teams. Furthermore, the ministry and GFA are required to conclude and sign a FIFA-standard cooperation agreement aimed at establishing joint decision-making between the two institutions.
The GFA is now expected to work within the proposed structure as Ghana seeks to revive its qualifying campaign and appoint a successor to Queiroz. The Black Stars are set to return to action next month with a double-header in the AFCON qualifiers, both matches scheduled to take place at the Accra Sports Stadium. Ghana is seeking to return to the continental tournament after missing the 2025 edition, with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Key points
- The Ghana Football Association has been ordered to dissolve the Black Stars technical team and existing national team management committees.
- A new National Technical Management Committee will be established to oversee the team's management.
- The changes aim to improve Ghana's performance in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
