Winfried Schäfer, former Cameroon head coach and current sporting director of the Ghana national team, believes the rise of African talent could soon lead to an all-African final at the FIFA World Cup.
Speaking during the Unity Cup at London’s Gtech Community Stadium, Schäfer shared his thoughts on African football and his current role within the Black Stars setup.
The 75-year-old German, who guided Cameroon to victory in the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, joined the Ghanaian national team in January 2024 as a consultant and technical director.
He now works alongside head coach Otto Addo, the former Borussia Dortmund and Hamburger SV midfielder, who took permanent charge of Ghana following a brief interim spell before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Addo, originally brought in as a stopgap solution, has since been officially appointed as Ghana’s head coach. However, the national team is currently facing a challenging period, having missed out on qualification for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
Reflecting on his work with the team and the road ahead, Schäfer admitted the task is far from simple. “I joined recently as a consultant, and Otto has been there longer,” he explained.
“There’s plenty of talent in Ghana, but talent alone is not enough. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I think Otto is on the right track. The right approach is already visible.”
Despite the recent setbacks, Schäfer remains optimistic about the long-term prospects of African football, drawing on his extensive experience coaching across the continent.
He pointed to the growing pool of African-eligible players making their mark across Europe as a key factor behind his bold prediction.
“If you look at clubs across Europe, there are so many excellent players who are eligible to play for African nations,” he said. “Talents like Lamine Yamal and Ansu Fati at Barcelona are outstanding.
More and more young players are coming through top academies, and they are adopting modern styles of play that match the best in the world.”
Schäfer’s comments come at a time when several African national teams are experiencing a generational shift, with young players taking centre stage in major European leagues.
The increasing tactical sophistication of African teams, coupled with a deeper talent pool, has bolstered hopes of a stronger showing at future World Cups.
“If we aren’t paying attention, two African teams could end up facing each other in a World Cup final,” Schäfer said. “And it could happen sooner than we think.”
His vision reflects a growing belief among football experts that Africa is no longer just a continent of raw talent but one capable of delivering technically and tactically advanced teams on the global stage.
As Ghana look to rebuild under Addo and Schäfer’s guidance, the goal is clear: return the Black Stars to the summit of African football and re-establish their presence on the world stage.
With experienced figures now steering the team’s direction and a wave of emerging talent, Schäfer’s optimism might not be as far-fetched as it once seemed.
