The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has significantly revamped the Black Stars’ technical team after a thorough evaluation of the team’s disappointing performance in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, in which Ghana failed to secure a single victory.
Winfried Anton Schäfer, the seasoned German manager who led Cameroon to the 2002 AFCON title, has been appointed Technical Advisor to the Black Stars. In addition to his advisory role, Schäfer will also serve as the GFA’s Director of Football, working alongside Head Coach Otto Addo to enhance the team’s performance.
Schäfer brings over four decades of coaching experience, having managed national teams such as Cameroon, Thailand, and Jamaica, along with European clubs like Borussia Mönchengladbach, Karlsruher SC, and VfB Stuttgart.
In a bid to strengthen the technical staff further, the GFA has appointed Desmond Ofei as assistant coach. Ofei, renowned for his success in rejuvenating Ghana’s U-20 team, was named the 2024 SWAG Coach of the Year and has won gold at the African Games. His inclusion aims to bring a fresh and analytical approach to the senior team.
Belgian sports psychologist Kris Perquy, who has 17 years of experience, joins the backroom staff to enhance the mental and psychological framework of the team. Perquy has worked with professional clubs and the Belgian FA, helping to improve the football psychology structure in Belgium.
Gregory De Grauwe, a UEFA B-licensed coach and experienced video analyst, will head the team’s video analysis unit. De Grauwe, who has worked with Belgian clubs such as Sporting Lokeren and K. Beerschot VA, will focus on enhancing the team’s tactical and strategic analysis.
The technical staff overhaul also includes two veteran equipment officers, Issah Amadou, formerly of Asante Kotoko, and Abdul Rahman Alhassan, formerly of Hearts of Oak, who bring a combined 53 years of experience in football operations.
The changes are part of the GFA’s broader efforts to improve the Black Stars’ performance and secure a more competitive future in continental and international football.
Source:TheDotNews