Sports World

Update, October 27: The GFA confirmed on October 21 that Anthony Baffoe withdrew from the search committee, which has worked with four members. An earlier version of this article had been amended to list him as a member; that amendment has been reversed.

As the committee searching for Ghana's next Black Stars coach races towards Friday's deadline, former players and coaches have been setting out what they believe the country needs. The message from several of them is clear: talent is not the problem, coaching is.

Polo: 'Add something to what players have'

Mohammed Polo, a member of the Ghana side that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1978 and a former Hearts of Oak star, told Citi Sports that the next coach must be able to improve players rather than simply rely on what they already have.

According to GhanaWeb, Polo said recent coaches had not added enough to the squad, leaving players to rely on what they already knew. He also argued that Ghana's search for coaching quality should extend to the grassroots, where he believes the country's talent needs better guidance to reach the required level.

Osei Fosu: 'Inspire the players'

Former Dreams FC coach Ignatius Osei Fosu has a slightly different emphasis. Speaking to ModernGhana, he said the GFA should look beyond tactical credentials and prioritise a coach with the personality and man-management skills to get the best out of the squad.

Osei Fosu argued that Ghana's leading players already understand the basic demands of international football. He pointed to Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus as examples, saying nobody needs to teach players of their quality how to make forward runs. The main task for the new coach, in his view, is to motivate players to execute his ideas.

Yorke throws his hat in

One high-profile name has already expressed interest. Former Manchester United and Trinidad and Tobago striker Dwight Yorke has said he is very much interested in the Ghana job, according to Adomonline, following earlier reports from Pulse Ghana. There has been no indication from the GFA or the search committee about whether he is under consideration.

What the committee is working with

The search panel, chaired by former GFA Vice-President Fred Pappoe, is due to submit its recommendation by Friday, October 9. Its other members are Stephen Appiah, Faisal Chibsah and Agbesi Dzakpasu, after Anthony Baffoe declined his appointment.

The Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the GFA have already set out some conditions. According to Graphic Online and 3News, the next coach will be required to live in Ghana and regularly monitor the domestic league. Adomonline also reports that a new National Technical Management Committee must be consulted before an appointment is made.

The challenge ahead

Whoever is chosen will inherit a team that has lost both of its opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and sits bottom of Group C. A November double-header against Somalia is next, with little room for error if Ghana are to avoid missing a second successive AFCON.

On one point, almost everyone agrees: the players are there. The debate is about who can get the best out of them.

Photo: Benjamin Mussler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0