Former Black Stars Management Committee member Kudjoe Fianoo has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to appoint technical director Winfried Schäfer as interim head coach of the national team as preparations intensify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The GFA is currently searching for a substantive head coach following the dismissal of Otto Addo after a disappointing March international window.
Ghana suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Austria in Vienna before falling 2-1 to Germany in Stuttgart—results that ultimately sealed Addo’s fate.
Speaking to Kessben Sports, Fianoo argued that handing the reins to Schäfer on a temporary basis would provide stability while the association conducts a thorough search for a long-term replacement.
“The technical director at the GFA understands the Ghanaian terrain, so I’ll suggest we give him the national team to handle on an interim basis while we take our time to look for a new coach,” he said.
Fianoo stressed the urgency of the situation, warning that time constraints could affect the team’s readiness if a rushed appointment is made.
“My fear is that we don’t have enough time on our side. So my advice is that we have a technical director who, some few years ago, was interested in the Black Stars coaching job, but we ended up giving Otto the job and gave the current technical director the directorship role.”
He also cautioned against the growing trend of frequent managerial changes, noting that Ghana risks becoming a nation that appoints a new coach almost every year.
“I think we should give him the job and take our time to do due diligence and find a coach who will take us through the short, medium and long term, because we’re becoming a country that appoints a new coach every year,” he added.
Several high-profile names, including Carlos Queiroz, Paulo Bento, and Fernando Santos, have been linked with the vacant position.
The GFA is expected to name a new head coach next week ahead of upcoming international friendlies, with Ghana set to face Mexico in May before taking on Wales on June 2.
The Black Stars will then open their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17, followed by fixtures against England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27, as they aim to move beyond the group-stage exits that marred their 2014 and 2022 campaigns.
