The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has reportedly dismissed Black Stars high-performance coach John Paintsil as part of a wide-ranging restructuring of the national team’s technical setup ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Paintsil, who joined the senior national team’s backroom staff following the reappointment of Otto Addo in March 2024, has now become one of several figures affected by the ongoing shake-up triggered by Ghana’s inconsistent form in the build-up to the tournament.
The reshuffle has seen multiple changes to the Black Stars’ technical bench in recent months. Desmond Ofei was earlier brought in to replace Paintsil during the World Cup qualifying campaign, while Alain Ravera and Kim Lars Björkegren were later added as assistant coaches ahead of the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Paintsil was subsequently reassigned as the team’s high-performance coach.
However, tensions within the setup intensified after back-to-back defeats to Austria and Germany in March, results that led to the departure of head coach Otto Addo, along with technical advisor and GFA Director of Football Winfried Schäfer.
The latest decision involving Paintsil is understood to form part of a broader effort by the Ghana Football Association to reset and stabilise the technical structure before the global showpiece.
In a parallel development, veteran coach Carlos Queiroz has been appointed on a short-term deal as Ghana’s new head coach, with Roger De Sa expected to join him as assistant.
Queiroz, who has previously managed Egypt, Iran and Portugal, has signed a four-month contract that will be reviewed after the World Cup. He is expected to be unveiled in Accra alongside members of his technical team on Thursday.
Ghana will continue their preparations with friendly matches against Mexico and Wales ahead of the tournament.
The Black Stars, set for their fifth World Cup appearance, have been drawn in Group L and will open their campaign against Panama on June 17, before facing England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.
Having exited at the group stage in both 2014 and 2022, Queiroz’s immediate task will be to restore stability and guide Ghana towards a stronger showing on football’s biggest stage.
