The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has revealed the stringent criteria for selecting the next coach for the Black Stars following the disappointing exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The association has set a clear mandate for the incoming coach, emphasising a winning track record and a wealth of coaching experience spanning at least 15 years.
After parting ways with former coach Chris Hughton, who oversaw the Black Stars’ underwhelming performance at AFCON 2023, the GFA established a five-member committee tasked with finding a suitable replacement within the next three weeks.
According to a statement from the GFA, the ideal candidate must be a proven winner, aligning with Ghana’s football DNA and possessing a coaching philosophy that resonates with the national team’s ethos. Crucially, the GFA stipulates that the incoming coach should boast at least 15 years of coaching experience, coupled with being a disciplinarian and tactician.
The search committee is composed of key figures within the football landscape, including GFA Vice President Mark Addo (Chair), legal practitioner Ace Ankomah (vice chair), Professor Joseph Kwame Mintah, Director of Coaching Education at the GFA, Ghanaian football legend Opoku Nti, and William Caesar Kartey, Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
- Read more: Ghana FA unveils roadmap for hiring next Black Stars coach
- Read more: Ghana’s coaching search: A look at the top candidates
However, concerns have been raised about the competency of the committee, particularly questioning the choice of Mark Addo as the leader. Addo had previously led the selection of former coach Milovan Rajevac, whose second tenure proved ineffective as Ghana exited the 2021 AFCON group stage after a loss to Comoros.