The Ministry of Sports and Recreation in Ghana has initiated a major overhaul of the Black Stars' technical team and management committee. This decision follows the resignation of Carlos Queiroz as the head coach of the team. A high-level meeting between the ministry and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on October 2 led to the adoption of seven key measures aimed at restructuring the team's management and improving its performance.
The Black Stars have had a disappointing start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, losing their first two Group C matches. The team was defeated 2-0 by Ivory Coast and then lost 4-2 to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. These poor results led to Queiroz's resignation, prompting the ministry and GFA to take decisive action to revive the team's fortunes.
One of the key measures agreed upon is the dissolution of the existing national team committees and the entire technical team of the Black Stars. A new National Technical Management Committee will be established, comprising two government-appointed experts and two nominees from the GFA. This committee will play a crucial role in advising on the appointment of the next Black Stars coach, with the GFA required to consult the new committee before making any appointments.
The existing national team management structure will be replaced by two separate committees, one 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, a move aimed at reducing costs and improving the team's working conditions.
The new measures also include the consolidation of 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 to conclude and sign a FIFA-standard cooperation agreement, aimed at establishing joint decision-making between the two institutions.
The overhaul comes at a critical time for Ghanaian football, as the team faces the possibility of missing a second successive Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 finals in Morocco and now seeks to revive its qualifying campaign for the 2027 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
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. The team's performance in these matches will be crucial in determining its chances of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Key points
- The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has ordered the dissolution of the Black Stars' technical team and management committee.
- A new National Technical Management Committee will be established to oversee the team's affairs.
- The GFA is required to consult the new committee before appointing the next Black Stars coach.
