Slaven Bilic frontrunner for Ghana’s World Cup coaching role

Croatian coach Slaven Bilić has emerged as a leading candidate to take charge of Ghana on a short-term basis ahead of the next FIFA World Cup.

The Ghana Football Association is reportedly leaning towards a cautious appointment strategy rather than a long-term commitment.

Joy Sports reports claim that the 57-year-old former West Ham boss has already engaged in discussions with senior figures at the FA.

Those talks are said to have left a strong impression, with officials viewing him as a suitable figure to stabilise the national team in the immediate term.

However, he is not alone on the shortlist, with at least two other candidates also under consideration.

Central to the FA’s thinking is a proposed four-month contract for whichever coach is appointed.

The arrangement reflects a deliberate shift in policy, with the governing body wary of entering into a long-term deal that could prove costly if results fall short on the global stage. Concerns over potential compensation payouts in the event of underperformance have shaped this cautious approach.

There is also a longer-term dimension to the FA’s planning. Sources indicate that Hervé Renard, currently in charge of Saudi Arabia national team, remains a preferred candidate for a more permanent role after the World Cup.

His possible availability appears to have influenced the decision to limit any immediate appointment to a short-term mandate.

Meanwhile, uncertainty persists within the FA’s decision-making structure. An Executive Council meeting held on April 10 ended without a firm resolution, with only six members physically present while president Kurt Okraku joined remotely during a trip abroad reportedly linked to discussions with a potential successor to Otto Addo.

Financial constraints may further complicate the search. The FA is understood to have tabled an offer of $50,000, a figure widely viewed within football circles as insufficient to attract a high-calibre coach for a tournament of such magnitude.