Anthony Baffoe declines role to serve on committee to recommend next Black Stars coach

Former Ghana defender Anthony Baffoe has declined an invitation to serve on the committee tasked with finding the next Black Stars head coach, according to Citi Sports.

Baffoe was named as one of five members of the committee alongside former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah, FIFA high performance specialist Faisal Chibsah and football administrator Agbesi Dzakpasu.

The committee is chaired by former Ghana Football Association (GFA) vice-president Fred Pappoe.

It was formed following a meeting between the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the GFA on Friday, 2 October, after Carlos Queiroz stepped down as Black Stars coach following Ghana's poor start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The committee has been tasked with identifying, assessing and recommending a suitable candidate for the vacant position, with its report expected by Friday, 9 October.

However, Citi Sports reports that Baffoe had not accepted the appointment before his name was announced publicly.

The former Ghana international, who previously served as CAF deputy general secretary, is said not to have been properly consulted before being included on the committee and has since communicated his decision not to serve.

His decision is understood to be linked to concerns about the broader approach to football development in Ghana rather than a lack of commitment to the Black Stars or Ghanaian football.

Ghana's search for a new coach comes at a difficult time for the national team.

The Black Stars opened their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Côte d'Ivoire before suffering a 4-2 home loss to The Gambia.

Those results leave Ghana bottom of Group C without a point after two matches.

The Black Stars will face Somalia in their next qualifier in November as they attempt to revive their campaign and secure a return to the AFCON tournament after missing the 2025 edition in Morocco.