Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet has dismissed reports suggesting he has been approached by the Ghana Football Association regarding the vacant head coach position of the Ghana national football team.

Saintfiet, whose name has recently surfaced in discussions about the job, clarified that he has not received any official communication from the Ghana FA.

Search continues after Otto Addo’s departure

The Black Stars coaching role became available after Otto Addo was relieved of his duties earlier this week.

Addo’s dismissal followed disappointing performances during the March international window, where Ghana suffered defeats to the Austria national football team and the Germany national football team in friendly matches.

Other coaches distance themselves from the role

As speculation grows over who will take charge of the Black Stars, some high-profile coaches have already ruled themselves out of the race.

Walid Regragui, the head coach of the Morocco national football team, has reportedly shown no interest in the position. Meanwhile, Hervé Renard is expected to remain with the Saudi Arabia national football team as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.

Saintfiet’s experience in African football

Despite denying contact with the GFA, Saintfiet remains one of the experienced coaches frequently mentioned in connection with the job.

The Belgian tactician has spent nearly 30 years working across African football, managing several national teams including the Namibia national football team, Zimbabwe national football team, Ethiopia national football team, Malawi national football team, Togo national football team and the Gambia national football team.

He is currently in charge of the Mali national football team.

Ghana prepare for World Cup challenge

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, the Ghana FA is under pressure to appoint a new coach soon to lead the Black Stars into the tournament.

Ghana have been drawn in Group L alongside the England national football team, Croatia national football team and the Panama national football team.

The Black Stars will begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 18 before facing England and Croatia in their remaining group matches.

The Ghana Football Association has reportedly received more than 600 applications for the vacant head coach position of the Ghana national football team following the departure of Otto Addo.

GFA president Kurt Okraku confirmed the overwhelming interest in the role, describing it as a clear sign of how attractive the Black Stars job remains within the football world.

Speaking to 3Sports, Okraku revealed that the FA has been flooded with applications from coaches across the globe who are eager to take charge of one of Africa’s most historic national teams.

Coaching position became vacant after recent defeats

The coaching role opened up after Otto Addo was relieved of his duties following a series of disappointing results.

Ghana suffered a heavy defeat to the Austria national football team before losing again to the Germany national football team in an international friendly. Those results triggered an emergency decision by the FA while the team was in Stuttgart.

Global interest in the Black Stars job

The large number of applicants reflects the prestige attached to managing Ghana, a four-time African champion and regular participant at the FIFA World Cup.

Both Ghanaian and international coaches are believed to be among the candidates hoping to secure the position.

GFA begins screening process

The Ghana FA is now expected to begin reviewing the applications as it looks to shortlist the most suitable candidates.

According to Kurt Okraku, the association hopes to appoint a new coach within the next one to two weeks in order to avoid disrupting the team’s preparations.

Focus shifts to World Cup preparation

The Black Stars are scheduled to play friendly matches against the Mexico national football team and the Wales national football team in May as part of their build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ghana have been drawn in a challenging group that includes the Panama national football team, Croatia national football team and England national football team.

The next head coach will therefore face immediate pressure to stabilise the team and guide the Black Stars into the tournament with renewed confidence.

Otto Addo has admitted that Ghana national football team are facing serious defensive and psychological challenges after their humiliating 5–1 defeat to Austria national football team in an international friendly.

The Black Stars struggled defensively throughout the match, conceding five goals in a performance that quickly deteriorated after a competitive start in Vienna.

While Ghana showed some promise in the early stages of the game, the team’s defensive organization collapsed as Austria capitalized on several mistakes at the back.

Otto Addo Admits Ghana Have Defensive Problems

Speaking after the match, Addo openly acknowledged that Ghana must address their defensive instability and improve their mental strength during difficult moments in matches.

“Defensively, we have problems. We have to be stable, especially psychologically. After the third goal we still have to keep our heads up and maintain the intensity,” Addo said.

The Ghana coach explained that although the players were disappointed with the result, the team must learn to respond better when games begin to slip away.

“I can understand that the players were disappointed, but these are the situations where we still need to step up. We have to overcome this,” he added.

Defensive Errors Cost Ghana Against Austria

Ghana conceded two early goals that Addo described as avoidable before the team completely lost defensive control in the latter stages of the game.

Austria took advantage of Ghana’s defensive lapses to score three additional goals, sealing a comprehensive victory.

Addo admitted that the goals conceded highlighted both technical mistakes and a drop in concentration among his players.

“The first two goals were easy. For goals three, four and five there were a lot of defensive issues. We have to work on that psychologically,” he explained.

According to the coach, maintaining focus and discipline throughout the entire match will be key to avoiding similar collapses in future games.

Black Stars Must Improve Mental Strength

Beyond tactical issues, Addo emphasized that Ghana must also improve their mental resilience when facing adversity on the pitch.

He warned that losing focus during crucial moments could prove costly in more competitive matches.

“The next step is to stay strong and stay focused. The players have to concentrate so that this doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Ghana Shift Attention to Germany Friendly

Despite the disappointing result, Addo is already turning his attention to Ghana’s next international friendly against Germany national football team.

The Black Stars will face Germany in Stuttgart on Monday, March 30, with kickoff scheduled for 18:45 GMT.

The upcoming match forms part of Ghana’s preparations for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Addo believes the team must quickly analyze their mistakes against Austria and make improvements before the Germany clash.

With several lessons to take from the defeat, Ghana will be hoping to bounce back and deliver a stronger performance in their next outing.

Ghana could see the return of Prince Adu and Kamaldeen Sulemana to the Black Stars squad as the team gears up for international friendlies later this month.

Reports indicate that head coach Otto Addo has included both players in preparations for matches against Austria on March 27 and Germany three days later. The official squad list is yet to be released.

Adu, representing FC Viktoria Plzen, has caught the eye of the technical team with his impressive displays this season. The young forward has netted seven goals across 35 appearances, showcasing the form that earned him previous national team call-ups. Adu made his Black Stars debut during the Kirin Cup in Asia, performing notably against Japan and South Korea.

Meanwhile, Atalanta’s winger Kamaldeen Sulemana is also set for a recall. The attacker, who has scored twice in 21 outings this season, continues his bid to regain a regular spot in the national setup.

Their inclusion signals that both Adu and Sulemana remain integral to Otto Addo’s long-term vision as Ghana looks ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, where they are set to face Panama, Croatia, and England in the group stage.

Prince Tagoe, a former Black Stars striker, expressed worries about the current team’s spiritual foundation, speculating that it might be the cause of the team’s recent difficulties.

Ghana’s senior national team has struggled on the continental scene; in the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) competitions, which were held in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, respectively, they were eliminated at the group stage.

Then, for the first time in more than 20 years, the four-time African champions were unable to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.

The Black Stars overcame these obstacles to earn a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Speaking on Sporty FM, Tagoe highlighted what he sees as a disconnect between the current players and their supporters.

The former Hearts of Oak forward believes the team’s past successes were rooted not only in talent but also in spiritual backing and genuine engagement with fans.

“As a former player, during my playing days with the Black Stars, it was not as if we were too good, but I believe we had good luck and spiritual backing for the team, and it always comes with giving out to people.

“If you play for the Black Stars and you don’t show love to the people who come to cheer you up, or you don’t care about the people who knew you while growing up, it becomes a problem, and these are the same people who will be praying for the team, because sometimes we do contribute and assist charity works as well and this what I want to see in this current team because I don’t think this current team do that.”

He added that many current players have earned a reputation for being distant from fans, in contrast to past stars like Stephen Appiah, who fostered strong connections with supporters.

“We are all in Ghana, and most of these players playing for the Black Stars have been described as stingy players, and that is teh fact. People might not be able to say that in public, but during our time, people used to come around the team because of Stephen Appiah, and we, the players, must ensure that we express our appreciation because these are the same people who will support the team, and this is something the team must look at.

“Sometimes, it is not about how good you are, but you will need to have luck and spiritual backing,” he added.

Ghana will make its fifth World Cup appearance in 2026, drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia. The Black Stars will open their campaign against Panama on June 17, face England on June 23, and close group play against Croatia on June 27.

After back-to-back group-stage exits at the 2014 and 2022 World Cups in Brazil and Qatar, the team is hoping for a deeper run in the United States, where they will base themselves at Bryant University throughout the tournament.

The recently hired members of the Black Stars’ technical team will not be paid on a monthly basis, according to Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) added five new members to the senior national team’s backroom staff ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Jose Daniel Martnez Alfonso has joined the team as the analyst, and Alain Ravera and Kim Lars Bjørrkegren have been appointed assistant coaches. Dwayne Peasah Paa Kwesi, a performance coach, and Carlos Lozano Romero, a psychologist, round out the group.

Adams, who also represents the Buem Constituency in Parliament, emphasized in an interview with Citi Sports that although the new employees will not receive wages, they will be entitled for appearance fees, per diems, and allowances throughout the competition.

“None of them will be on any salary. None of them is on a salary, but they will benefit from some of the allowances that are paid to the team, and these additions are just for the World Cup,” he said.

“After the World Cup, the contract arrangement ends, so they will benefit from some money, including maybe the appearance fees that are paid, but they will not get 100% of their appearance fees.

“Of course, they will also benefit from the winning bonuses that are entitled to any member of the team when they win, and then, of course, the per diems that are paid to team members, they will be entitled to.

“They will be entitled to other services that are rendered to every member of the team, but they are not on salaries. Alain is not on a salary. Kim will not be on a monthly salary other than the salary he takes as the coach of the Black Queens. That’s all he’s going to be taking, but he will benefit from some allowances, so we’re not paying any of these additions any salary,” Adams added.

Ghana, appearing at their fifth World Cup, have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia. The Black Stars will kick off their campaign against Panama on June 17, face England on June 23, and conclude group play against Croatia on June 27.

After early exits in the group stages of the 2014 and 2022 tournaments in Brazil and Qatar, the four-time African champions are determined to advance further this summer.

A growing financial issue over the venue that will host Ghana’s second World Cup group match against England may result in the match’s cancellation.

According to the UK publication The Mirror, FIFA faces the daunting possibility of moving seven games away from Gillette Stadium just four months before the tournament starts.

The New England Patriots and New England Revolution’s home field will host a number of World Cup games, including the match between Ghana and England.

It will also host Norway’s encounter against France, Scotland’s first two World Cup matches against Haiti and Morocco, and a matchup with Bolivia, Iraq, or Suriname. In addition, the stadium is scheduled to host a quarterfinal and a Round of 32 match.

The municipality of Foxborough, however, has threatened to refuse to issue the required entertainment license until its security expenses are pre-paid.

Despite being about 22 miles southwest of the city and part of the Boston metropolitan area, FIFA’s sponsorship rules require that the stadium be referred to as “Boston Stadium” during the competition.

The dispute came into sharp focus during a town meeting on Tuesday night between members of the Foxborough Select Board and FIFA representatives.

Director of venue operations Kevin Clark and Boston 2026 host committee president Mike Loynd were questioned by board members.

Board chair Bill Yukna asked Loynd: “Is FIFA, who is going to be the licensee, are they in the end responsible if nothing else comes through on this?”

Loynd replied: “That’s sort of a broad question.”

Board member Mark Elfman responded: “It’s really not.”

Elfman added as quoted by the Mirror: “I gotta be honest with you, it baffles my mind that you guys are sitting here in front of me right now and how we still have no idea where this money’s coming from.” At the centre of the disagreement is an estimated $7.8 million in security funding.

Foxborough officials insist the amount must be guaranteed upfront, making it clear they will not risk taxpayers’ money on the promise of reimbursement.

Vice chair Stephanie McGowan stated firmly:
“We’re not prepared to issue this license unless everything is in place. I’m gonna tell you, this board will not issue this license.”

She further questioned: “How does anybody expect that we would do this for someone who’s coming into our town for 39 days, making all these demands, and then you guys are gonna go away. Then once there is no Boston26 … well, who are we gonna sue?”

Despite the hardline position, Yukna indicated that a resolution remains possible.

“We want nothing more than to be able to just sign on the dotted line and know that when the events start, our problems aren’t about the money.”

Ghana is Group L and will play England on June 23, 2026, in Boston.

Prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Black Stars will play their third international friendly against Mexico.

Before facing Germany in their second friendly on March 30 in Stuttgart, Ghana will play Austria on March 27 at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna.

The game against Mexico is scheduled on May 22 at an unspecified location in the North American country.

The game will be used by both nations to better evaluate their teams in preparation for the World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

The time frame described above coincides with the end of most European leagues, such as the English Premier League and Spanish La Liga, which end on May 24.

Therefore, according to the FA, the team would be “made up of players from the domestic league [in Ghana], some U-23 players,” and “European leagues that [Black Stars coach Otto Addo] watches.”

Ghana and Mexico last played a friendly in October 2023, losing 2-0 to the Black Stars, who under head coach Chris Hughton were unable to muster a shot on goal.

Mexico will kick off their campaign against South Africa on June 11 before facing either South Korea, Czech Republic, Denmark, Republic of Ireland, or North Macedonia in the other Group A matches.

The Black Stars, meanwhile, will play Panama on June 17 before facing Croatia and England in Group L.

It is anticipated that Ghana will play “two other unnamed opponents” prior to the World Cup.

Black Stars Technical Advisor Winfried Schäfer has shed light on the crucial behind-the-scenes contribution he made to Ghana’s successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking in an interview with Medeamaa FM, the experienced German coach explained that his impact went far beyond tactics and matchday instructions. According to Schäfer, building unity, maintaining strong communication, and prioritizing player welfare were central to the team’s achievement.

Drawing on his years of coaching experience, Schäfer revealed that he closely observed the team’s daily routines, from training sessions to shared meals, to better understand the players and the overall team dynamic.

Winfried Schäfer emphasized the importance of personal interaction, noting that he engaged both senior players such as Thomas Partey and Jordan Ayew, as well as younger members of the squad. Beyond football discussions, Schäfer made it a point to understand players on a personal level, asking about their families and club situations to foster trust and openness within the camp.

Another key focus was maintaining a healthy relationship between the national team and players’ respective clubs. Schäfer highlighted the need to ensure that players returned to their clubs fit and injury-free after international duty, acknowledging that club coaches expect their players to come back in top condition.

He also pointed to improvements in training facilities and matchday environments as important elements that boosted player performance. According to him, providing quality pitches and a professional setup created the right atmosphere for success.

Equally significant was the positive spirit within the squad. Schäfer described a united group filled with confidence, laughter, and determination. He stressed that the team approached matches with a winning mentality rather than a fear of defeat — a mindset he believes made a major difference.

The veteran tactician further underlined the importance of squad depth, praising not only the starting lineup but also the players on the bench for their full commitment to the team’s objective.

Ghana’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup stands as a major accomplishment, and Schäfer’s reflections highlight the strong structure, discipline, and unity that fueled the Black Stars’ successful campaign.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced the appointment of five experienced professionals to reinforce the Black Stars’ technical setup ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

The strategic move, carried out in collaboration with key stakeholders, is aimed at improving Ghana’s competitiveness and ensuring a well-structured technical team as preparations intensify for the tournament, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

French coach Alain Ravera has been appointed Assistant Coach. Ravera brings international experience, having previously worked with the Guinea national team and French top-flight side AS Monaco.

He will work alongside Kim Lars Björkegren, Head Coach of the Black Queens, who has also been named Assistant Coach. The Swedish tactician guided the Black Queens to a bronze medal at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and has secured qualification for the 2026 WAFCON.

To boost scouting, match preparation and performance analysis, the GFA has added Spanish tactician José Daniel Martínez Alfonso to the technical team. Martínez Alfonso currently serves as an assistant coach and video analyst with Major League Soccer club Atlanta FC.

The medical department has been reinforced with the return of Carlos Lozano Romero as Team Physiotherapist. Lozano previously worked with the Black Stars during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, ensuring continuity and familiarity with the team’s environment.

Completing the new appointments is British-born Ghanaian performance expert Dwayne Peasah Paa Kwesi, who takes up the role of Performance Coach. His duties will focus on physical conditioning, player optimisation and overall performance management throughout the World Cup campaign.

The GFA confirmed that the appointments are exclusively for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in line with its long-standing tradition of expanding the Black Stars’ technical team for major international tournaments.

All five professionals will work alongside the existing technical staff led by Head Coach Otto Addo, as Ghana steps up preparations with the goal of making a strong impact on the world stage.