Newly appointed Technical Advisor of the Black Stars, Winfried Schaefer, has revealed that his primary mission is to implement structural reforms aimed at reviving football in Ghana.
The veteran German tactician, who also serves as the Director of Football at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), is part of a revamped technical team tasked with reshaping the national setup.
In an interview with German outlet Sächsische Zeitung, Schaefer, a former head coach of Cameroon and Jamaica, explained that his appointment followed growing concerns about the state of Ghanaian football, particularly the disappointing performance of the senior national team.
“The team had missed the Africa Cup—something considered a catastrophe in Ghana,” he said. “There was unrest in the squad, World Cup qualification wasn’t going well, and the president of the federation asked me to come in and bring some structure.”
At 75, Schaefer clarified that he won’t be taking charge from the touchline, but will instead offer strategic technical guidance while helping rebuild trust in the national football system. He is working closely with Black Stars head coach Otto Addo.
“It’s not about being a guru,” he stated. “But I’ve been around long enough to know what works in African football.”
His appointment comes in the wake of Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and an unsteady start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. He is now leading efforts to unify Ghana’s football framework and develop long-term growth initiatives.
“There’s still a lot of work to do,” Schaefer admitted. “The real challenge is to implement sustainable football projects within Ghana. I’m still looking for international partners who can support us. But I’m optimistic.”
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