Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie has backed the GFA’s decision to strengthen the Black Stars’ technical team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The GFA has recently added five experienced professionals to the Black Stars’ backroom staff as part of efforts to improve the team’s performance at the tournament.
French coach Alain Ravera and Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren have been named as assistant coaches. Spanish coach Jose Daniel Martinez Alfonso has joined to boost scouting and match analysis, while Carlos Lozano Romero returns as team physiotherapist after working with the Black Stars at the 2022 World Cup. British-born Ghanaian performance coach Dwayne Peasah Paa Kwesi completes the new-look technical team.
Reacting to the changes, Afriyie, who previously served as chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, praised the decision.
“A 20-man technical team for the Black Stars makes sense. We’ve delayed this modernisation for too long,” he told Asempa FM.
Afriyie also defended the inclusion of Björkegren in the men’s national team setup.
“Kim Lars Björkegren in the Black Stars’ World Cup technical team is not a bad move. Coaching the Black Queens doesn’t make him less qualified,” he added.
After suffering back-to-back group-stage exits at recent World Cups, the GFA is keen to ensure the Black Stars make a stronger impact at the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Ghana have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia. The Black Stars will begin their campaign against Panama on June 17, 2026, face England on June 23, and finish the group stage against Croatia on June 27.
By: Pascal Amoah
