Black Stars Technical Advisor and GFA's Director of Football Winfried Schäfer sacked

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has parted ways with Black Stars technical advisor Winfried Schäfer, as part of a broader restructuring ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Schäfer, who was appointed in late 2024 to support head coach Otto Addo following Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), also assumed the role of Director of Football in 2025.

His departure comes on the heels of Addo’s dismissal, signalling a significant shake-up within the national team’s technical setup.

Sources indicate the German tactician’s exit was finalised shortly after Ghana’s international friendly against Germany in Stuttgart in March.

That match followed a heavy 5-1 defeat to Austria in Vienna, a result that appeared to have influenced the association’s decision to reset.

The GFA is expected to continue its overhaul, with the incoming head coach likely to be granted full control over assembling his technical team.

Several high-profile names have already been linked with the vacant position, including Slaven Bilić, Carlos Queiroz and Fernando Santos.

An announcement on the new head coach is anticipated next week, ahead of the Black Stars’ regrouping in May.

Ghana is scheduled to face Mexico and Wales in upcoming friendlies before opening its World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17.

The Black Stars will then take on England and Croatia, as the Black Stars seek to move beyond their group-stage exits in 2014 and 2022.