Ghana Faces Critical Afcon Qualifiers as Coaching Changes Raise Concerns
As Ghana prepares for two pivotal 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying matches, women’s coach Kim Bjorkegren steps in as the interim head coach following the departure of Carlos Queiroz. The Black Stars are set to face Somalia in consecutive matches after a disappointing start, where they suffered losses against Ivory Coast and The Gambia last month.
The exit of Queiroz marked a period of instability, which prompted former head coach Chris Hughton to call for greater consistency in the team’s management. “When you have inconsistency in the amount of time a manager stays, it’s never good,” Hughton commented to BBC Sport Africa. He emphasized that both players and coaches benefit from a stable environment.
Queiroz, who previously worked as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United, took charge in April and guided Ghana to the World Cup’s last 32, notably securing a goalless draw with England. However, he announced his departure shortly after the team was eliminated by Colombia in the knockout stage.
Despite being reappointed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in early September, Queiroz’s second tenure was brief, as the Black Stars faced a 2-0 defeat against Ivory Coast and a 4-2 loss to The Gambia, which ultimately led to his dismissal.
Hughton reflected on Ghana’s World Cup performance, noting the team represented the nation well, particularly in the match against England. However, he indicated that the frequent coaching changes could lead to a negative mindset among players, knowing that poor performance could lead to a coach’s exit.
The issue of managerial turnover in Ghana isn’t new. Hughton’s own tenure was short. After being appointed technical director in February 2022, he became head coach in February 2023 but was sacked in January 2024 after failing to progress past the group stages in the 2023 Afcon.
Ghana has cycled through numerous coaches over the past six years, with Hughton being one of five head coaches including Charles Akonnor, Milovan Rajevac, and Otto Addo. This trend of constant change contrasts sharply with Kwesi Appiah’s longer tenure, which remains the most extended since the late 1970s.
As the Black Stars face the looming threat of missing out on a second consecutive Afcon finals, Hughton believes that underfunding and fierce competition have intensified the challenges ahead. He pointed out that while Ghana historically ranked among Africa’s elite footballing nations, the emergence of other strong teams has escalated competition levels.
Hughton underscored the need for government investment in football infrastructure to revitalize the local league and restore the production of quality players. He remarked that the current support for local football does not match the passion fans hold for the Black Stars, pointing to a lack of investment in the sport’s foundation in Ghana.
Despite struggling in Afcon, Ghana’s World Cup track record remains commendable, having reached the knockout stages three times since their debut in 2006. Under Addo, they qualified for the upcoming tournament with a strong performance in the qualifying rounds, but multiple player withdrawals hampered Queiroz’s efforts during the recent qualifiers.
With the pressure mounting on interim coach Bjorkegren and the team’s prospects for the upcoming Afcon qualifiers hanging in the balance, the need for stability within the coaching structure remains critical for Ghana as they seek to reclaim their standing in African football.
