The Ghana national team has officially confirmed the appointment of a former Esteghlal FC head coach.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations draw took place in Morocco on Monday, and Ghana was a notable absentee from the 24 teams due to their failure to qualify for the tournament.
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Ghana failed to qualify for AFCON for the first time since 2004, leading to a major crisis within the national team.
Many have been critical of the Black Stars, particularly their coaching staff, led by head coach Otto Addo.
According to reports, some still believe that Addo should have been sacked from his role in November 2024 when their AFCON 2025 fate was confirmed, but the Ghana Football Association (GFA) had a different plan.
The GFA has since confirmed that Addo will retain his job, but a new technical advisor has been appointed to help steer the team in the right direction.
In a statement on their official website, the organisation announced German coach Winfried Schäfer, who also previously coached Esteghlal in Iran, as their new technical advisor.
"After a thorough review of the performance of the Black Stars during last year's qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Ghana Football Association has revamped the technical team of the Stars," the GFA confirmed.
"The vastly experienced and accomplished German manager and former African Cup of Nations winner (with Cameroon in 2002), Winfried Anton Schafer, has been appointed as technical advisor of the team with a mandate to work closely with head coach Otto Addo to build a winsome team. Schafer will also play the role of director of football for the Football Association.
"Winfried Schafer assumes the role having excelled in a managerial career spanning a little over 40 years, working with a number of national teams (Cameroon, Thailand, and Jamaica) as well as European clubs including Borussia Monchengladbach, Karlsruher SC, VfB Stuttgart, and Borussia Berlin.
"The highlight of Schafer's experience with national teams was his winning the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2002."
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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