Tuesday, 14 January

GFA to reconstitute Black Stars management committee ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Sports News
Stephen Appiah

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is restructuring the Black Stars management committee as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah has been approached to join the new team.

The reorganization is being spearheaded by GFA President Kurt Okraku, with four prominent individuals under consideration for key roles.

Among them is Dr. Randy Abbey, an Executive Council member who is expected to chair the committee.

Others include Stephen Appiah, Richard Duah Nsenkyire (CEO of Samartex), and Samuel Aboabri (Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Football Association).

Appiah’s inclusion would signify a return to the committee after being listed as a member in 2022.

However, during his previous appointment, he did not attend any meetings due to concerns about the process and treatment of committee members.

Despite these reservations, Appiah remains open to taking on the role depending on the outcome of ongoing discussions.

“These are not personal grievances but about ensuring fairness and proper treatment for all involved,” Appiah stated.

Richard Duah Nsenkyire’s appointment is also being discussed.

However, mixed reactions have emerged regarding his inclusion, largely due to dissatisfaction over the GFA’s financial treatment of Samartex during the CAF Champions League.

The club received only $15,000 in support—half the $30,000 typically allocated to participating clubs.

Nsenkyire is consulting with close associates before making a final decision.

In addition to these key figures, the GFA had reportedly considered other candidates, including Kwame Ayew and Anthony Baffoe, before narrowing the list.

The restructuring follows concerns about the Black Stars’ lack of leadership direction, a factor believed to have contributed to Ghana’s failure to qualify for AFCON 2025.

To address this, the GFA is exploring further appointments, including:

A technical director to support head coach Otto Addo. A team psychologist, a role that has been vacant since 2019. Possible changes to the team manager position.

The GFA aims to finalize these appointments and decisions before Ghana’s World Cup qualifiers begin in March 2025.

The Association, under the leadership of Kurt Okraku, is determined to secure Ghana’s second consecutive World Cup appearance and re-establish the team as a dominant force in African football.

Source: Classfmonline.com/Cecil Mensah