The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is targeting November 2026 to appoint a substantive head coach for the Black Stars following the departure of Carlos Queiroz, as the team seeks to revive its struggling 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.
GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum says the committee responsible for finding a replacement is working to complete the recruitment process before the end of November, although a specific appointment date has not been confirmed.
The search comes at a difficult time for Ghana, who have lost their opening two matches in the AFCON qualifiers and currently sit bottom of Group C without a point.
With pressure mounting on the four-time African champions, the association is expected to prioritise finding a coach capable of restoring confidence, improving performances and guiding the team back into contention for a place at the tournament.
Speaking to Luv FM, Asante Twum explained that the committee was determined to conclude its work within the coming weeks.
“They [the committee] want to get us a coach by November. In terms of actuals, I don’t have [a specific date], but I know by the end of the two games against Somalia, they will be in a position to tell who our coach is,” he said.
His comments suggest that the GFA expects to have greater clarity on the appointment after the Black Stars complete their upcoming double-header against Somalia.
In the meantime, the association has appointed Kim Lars Björkegren to lead the senior men’s national team on an interim basis for the two matches.
Björkegren, who coaches Ghana’s women’s senior national team, the Black Queens, will be assisted by Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram. Former Ghana international goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda will continue in his role as goalkeepers’ coach.
The interim arrangement was recommended by a five-member committee tasked with overseeing the search for a permanent replacement for Queiroz.
The decision allows the Black Stars to continue preparations for their upcoming qualifiers while the GFA works towards completing the recruitment process.
Despite the attention surrounding the coaching vacancy, Asante Twum insists that the immediate priority is securing positive results against Somalia rather than allowing the search for a new coach to overshadow the team’s preparations.
He stressed that Ghana cannot afford further setbacks if they are to keep their qualification hopes alive.
“The two games ahead of us are more important than any other subject. We need to get back on track and must get results in the next matches,” he added.
The Black Stars began their qualifying campaign on a disappointing note, suffering consecutive defeats against Ivory Coast and The Gambia.
Those results have left Ghana bottom of Group C without a point, placing the team under pressure ahead of the next round of fixtures.
The upcoming matches against Somalia will therefore be crucial to Ghana’s ambitions of returning to the continental competition after missing the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
Ghana endured a disappointing qualifying campaign for that tournament, finishing bottom of their group without recording a victory. The failure to qualify marked a major setback for a nation that has won the AFCON four times and remains one of the continent’s historically successful football teams.
The Black Stars will be eager to avoid another unsuccessful campaign, particularly after the disappointment of missing out on the previous edition.
The double-header against Somalia offers the team an opportunity to collect their first points and begin rebuilding confidence among supporters. However, the players will need to demonstrate greater consistency and improve their performances if they are to recover from their poor start.
The appointment of an interim technical team is intended to provide stability during this period, allowing the players to concentrate on the matches while the search for a permanent coach continues.
Björkegren’s experience with the Black Queens will be put to the test as he takes temporary charge of the men’s senior national team. Working alongside Tanko and Attram, he will be expected to prepare the squad for two important fixtures in a campaign that has already become challenging.
For the GFA, the search for a substantive coach presents an opportunity to address the Black Stars’ recent struggles and restore confidence in the team following their failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON.
However, the immediate focus remains on the upcoming matches against Somalia, where Ghana must secure positive results to revive their qualifying campaign.
The GFA is targeting November to complete the appointment, with the outcome of the double-header expected to provide greater clarity on the process and the team’s immediate future.
