Black Stars set-piece coach and chief video analyst, Gregory De Grauwe, has credited assistant coach Desmond Ofei for playing a key role in his appointment to Ghana’s technical setup.
The Belgian tactician was brought in as part of a sweeping restructuring of the national team following Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
His addition proved instrumental, with the Black Stars showing marked improvement in set-piece execution, a crucial factor behind their successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking in an interview with Sporty FM, De Grauwe revealed that his professional bond with Ofei dates back several years to their time together in Belgium.
“We worked together at Lokeren. I was the video analyst for the first team, while Desmond coached the reserves. That’s how we met about five years ago,” he recalled.
Their relationship remained strong over the years, and when Ofei joined Ghana’s technical bench, he extended an invitation to his former colleague.
“He asked, ‘Greg, do you want to come work for us?’ A few days later, I had an online meeting with GFA President Mr Kurt Okraku, and everything happened very quickly,” De Grauwe added.
Since the restructuring, the Black Stars have shown renewed cohesion and tactical discipline. They finished top of Group I in the World Cup qualifiers with 25 points from 10 matches, securing their fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros in Accra.
Ghana will discover their group-stage opponents for the 2026 World Cup during the draw in Washington, D.C., on December 5.
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