Following a dismal performance that saw the Black Stars of Ghana miss out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) qualification, the country’s federation has made changes to the technical bench.
Ghana, one of Africa’s big guns, stunned many last year when they failed to make it among the 24 teams that will converge in Morocco for the Cup of Nations this December.
The Black Stars finished bottom of Group F with three points on the back of a run that saw them end the qualifiers winless.
This run saw many Ghanaians calling for the sacking of coach Otto Addo, who before returning to Ghana abandoned his role as assistant coach at German side Borussia Dortmund.
The Ghana FA has proceeded to shake up the bench but much to the disappointment of many of their fans, Addo has maintained his place. The association has, however, added German trainer Winfried Anton Schafer, who comes in as technical advisor and director of football.
Statement by GFA
In a statement on Tuesday, the Ghana FA stated that the German will be expected to work closely with Addo to build ‘a winsome Black Stars team’.
The FA described Schafer as “vastly experienced,” given his credentials that have seen him work both at national teams and club level.
On the African continent, he is famously remembered for guiding Cameroon to the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations title.
“Winfried Schafer assumes the role having excelled in a managerial career spanning a little over 40 years working with a number of National teams (Cameroon, Thailand and Jamaica) as well as European clubs including Borussia Monchengladbach, Karlsruher SC, VFB Stuttgart and Borussia Berlin,” the GFA stated. “One of Schafer’s most notable achievements is winning the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2002.”
His role will also extend to overseeing the development of football in Ghana as the Director of Football.
“This role will also require Schafer to, in conjunction with the Technical Directorate of the GFA, develop and implement long-term strategic plans for the association, provide technical guidance in line with Ghana’s football philosophy, provide general leadership for youth development and ensure consistent high performance by teams,” the GFA stated.
