Ghana Reshapes Technical Bench Ahead of Crucial AFCON Qualifiers
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has taken a decisive step in rebuilding its national team coaching setup, appointing Professor J.K. Mintah as assistant coach to interim head coach Maxwell Konadu. The move comes in the wake of former head coach Kwesi Appiah’s dismissal, following a turbulent spell that ended with a 3-2 win over Togo in the ongoing 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Professor Mintah, a respected figure in Ghanaian football, previously managed Premier League side Ebusua Dwarfs and has served the national team in a supporting role as a sports psychologist and physiotherapist. His promotion to assistant coach is part of the GFA’s broader effort to stabilise the Black Stars ahead of a pivotal double-header against Guinea on Matchdays 3 and 4.
With Ghana level on points in Group E, the next phase of qualifiers is critical for their hopes of securing a place at next year’s continental showpiece in Morocco. The team arrived in Morocco this week to face Guinea, who have been forced to host their home fixtures outside of their Ebola-hit country due to health concerns.
While Konadu holds the reins for now, the GFA is actively searching for a permanent successor to Appiah. A five-man shortlist has been drawn up, featuring high-profile candidates from across Europe. Among the names are former Swiss assistant coach Michel Pont, Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert, Italy’s 1982 World Cup-winning midfielder Marco Tardelli, former Chelsea manager Avram Grant, and Spanish tactician Juan Ignacio Jiménez.
Each of the shortlisted coaches brings a distinct pedigree and international experience, indicating the GFA’s ambition to bring fresh direction and tactical nuance to a side that has seen inconsistency in recent years.
The appointment of Mintah reflects the GFA’s confidence in combining local expertise with international insight. His background in sports psychology may also play a vital role in galvanising a squad still recovering from the fallout of a controversial 2014 World Cup campaign and subsequent managerial changes.
As the Black Stars prepare to face Guinea on neutral soil, all eyes will be on Konadu’s tactical choices and Mintah’s influence behind the scenes. Victory in these next fixtures could offer Ghana a firmer grip on Group E—and pave the way for a new era under a soon-to-be-appointed head coach.
