Former Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Fred Pappoe, has called on decision-makers to prioritise a coach who understands the country’s football identity as the search for a new Black Stars manager intensifies.
His comments follow the GFA’s announcement on Monday, March 31, confirming the dismissal of Otto Addo after Ghana’s back-to-back defeats to Austria and Germany in pre-World Cup friendly matches.
Weighing in on the criteria for the next appointment, Pappoe emphasised the need for a manager capable of making an immediate impact without requiring an extended adaptation period.
“If we want to go for a coach, we have to go for someone who can hit the ground running; someone who knows our football culture,” he told Citi Sports.
Ghana’s coaching history has seen a mix of local and foreign tacticians, with success often linked to those who demonstrated a strong grasp of the domestic football structure and player dynamics.
Meanwhile, GFA President Kurt Okraku has disclosed that more than 600 applications have been received for the vacant role, with a new head coach expected to be named within the next two weeks.
The Black Stars are scheduled to regroup in May for an international friendly against Mexico, before facing Wales on June 2 in their final preparatory matches ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
