Veteran German coach Winfried Schäfer says Ghana’s football revival cannot rely on quick fixes or short-term wins. Appointed as Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association in January 2025, Schäfer believes the true task ahead lies in building sustainable systems that can transform the gam; e at all ; levels from grassroots to the national team.
In an exclusive with Sächsische Zeitung, the 75-year-old German tacticianwho famously led Cameroon to the 2002 AFCON title spoke candidly about the urgency behind his appointment.
“The team had missed the Africa Cup; something considered a catastrophe in Ghana,” Schäfer said. “There was unrest in the squad, World Cup qualification wasn’t going well…”
Since taking charge in January 2025, Schäfer has been working closely with national team head coach Otto Addo, helping Ghana secure back-to-back wins in the opening rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
But he insists that early success is only the beginning.
“The real challenge is to implement sustainable football projects within Ghana,” Schäfer emphasized. “I’m still looking for international partners who can support us. But I’m optimistic.”
Schäfer’s arrival signals a fresh chapter for Ghanaian football; one aimed at long-term stability, youth development, and a renewed sense of purpose on and off the pitch.
