Interim team to lead Black Stars as GFA extends coach search to October 15
Update, October 27: This article originally said Anthony Baffoe remained on the search committee, based on the GFA's October 11 statement listing him as a member. On October 21 the GFA confirmed he had withdrawn and that the committee had worked with four members. The section below has been corrected.
Ghana will not have a permanent Black Stars coach in place for November's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Instead, the Ghana Football Association has confirmed that an interim technical team will take charge of the double-header against Somalia, while the search for Carlos Queiroz's successor continues through October and November.
Applications open until October 15
In a statement on Sunday, October 11, the GFA said that, in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the search committee, it had extended the deadline for applications for the head coach role to Thursday, October 15, according to Graphic Online. The aim, it said, is to ensure the widest possible pool of qualified candidates.
A longer, 'structured' process
The GFA said the committee, after its first meetings and a preliminary review, had recommended a more structured recruitment process. Evaluating, interviewing and shortlisting candidates will continue through October and November, with a final recommendation to follow after that.
The association said the process would include due diligence and background checks, consultation with football stakeholders and technical experts, and an assessment of candidates against technical, leadership, cultural and high-performance criteria.
Interim team for November
To ensure the team is ready for the Somalia games, the GFA will appoint an interim technical team. Its responsibilities will include preparing and managing the squad for the November matches, maintaining continuity, monitoring players and handing over smoothly to the permanent coach.
GhanaSoccernet has reported that Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram, who joined the Black Stars technical team as an assistant during the September window, are among those being considered.
The committee
The search committee is chaired by Fred Pappoe and includes Stephen Appiah, Faisal Chibsah and Agbesi Dzakpasu. Anthony Baffoe, named as a fifth member, withdrew from the panel, the GFA later confirmed.
Rankings slide
The urgency is clear. According to Graphic Online, Ghana dropped five places to 70th in the latest FIFA rankings after September's defeats to Ivory Coast and The Gambia left them bottom of Group C without a point.
The November double-header against Somalia, expected to be played at the Accra Sports Stadium, is now vital.
Photo: Benjamin Mussler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0