By: Isaac Darko Boamah
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has parted company with Black Stars Technical Advisor and Director of Football Winfried Schäfer, as the governing body executes a major overhaul of the senior national team’s technical bench ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Schäfer, 76, was appointed in late 2024 to support then-head coach Otto Addo after Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. In 2025, his role was expanded to Director of Football, aimed at strengthening the long-term development of Ghanaian football.
His dismissal follows Otto Addo’s own sacking last month, signaling a broad reset of the Black Stars’ technical structure. Sources indicate the German’s exit was finalized shortly after Ghana’s international friendly against Germany in Stuttgart in March, which came on the back of a 5-1 defeat to Austria in Vienna.
The GFA is expected to continue the shake-up, with the incoming head coach likely to be granted full authority to assemble his backroom staff. Joy Sports understands that many of the current support staff could lose their jobs as part of the restructuring.
Race for New Coach Heats Up
Several high-profile names have been linked to the vacant head coach role, including former West Ham United manager Slaven Bilić, ex-Egypt and Iran boss Carlos Queiroz, and former Portugal coach Fernando Santos.
Sports Minister Kofi Adams said in an interview last week that a new Black Stars coach will be announced next week. The appointment is anticipated ahead of the team’s next camp in May.
World Cup Clock Ticking
The new coach will have barely 60 days to prepare the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Ghana has been drawn in a tough group with Panama, England, and Croatia.
The Black Stars open their campaign against Panama on June 17, before facing England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27. Before the tournament, Ghana is scheduled to play Mexico and Wales in international friendlies.
Schäfer’s Tenure
Schäfer brought over four decades of experience to the role, having won the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon and managed Jamaica, Thailand, and several clubs in Germany and the Middle East. He also previously served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United and managed Real Madrid.
His mandate included advising Otto Addo and helping modernize the GFA’s technical direction. However, consecutive poor results and Ghana’s absence from AFCON 2025 appear to have accelerated the FA’s decision to start afresh.
The GFA has yet to release an official statement on Schäfer’s severance terms or announce his replacement. Contract details and the composition of the new backroom staff remain outstanding.
