The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is facing a challenging task in their search for a new coach, with only less than three weeks to appoint a suitable candidate to lead the restructuring of the Black Stars.
The association’s executive council member, Frederick Acheampong, has revealed that two-time AFCON winner Herve Renard remains the preferred choice for the job, but financial constraints may prevent his appointment.
According to Acheampong, the GFA had approached Renard before the World Cup when he was still with Saudi Arabia, but they could not afford his wages, leading them to hire Milovan Rajevic instead. Despite this, Renard has continued to express interest in coaching Ghana, and the GFA considers him their primary priority.
However, Acheampong emphasised that the current economic situation in the country makes it extremely difficult to hire Renard.
“We approached him prior to the World Cup; at the time, he was with Saudi Arabia. He was interested in the Ghana project, but we couldn’t afford his wage, so we hired Milovan Rajevic,” Acheampong revealed in an interview with Akoma 87.9 FM.
“Herve Renard has always and will remain the primary priority of the FA, but as I previously stated, considering all variables, particularly the economic position of our country, it makes it incredibly difficult to hire him.”
The GFA has set a deadline of February 2, 2024, for interested applicants to submit their applications. The five-member committee, led by GFA Vice President Mark Addo, is working tirelessly to find a suitable replacement for Chris Hughton, who was sacked following the Black Stars’ disappointing performance at AFCON 2023.
While Renard remains the top choice, the GFA is exploring other options within their budget constraints. The association hopes to find a coach who can lead the team to success and restore its former glory.