Black Stars set-piece coach and chief video analyst Gregory De Grauwe has described his appointment to the Ghana national team as one of the proudest moments of his career, hailing the opportunity as a great honour.
The Belgian tactician, who joined the Black Stars’ technical team in March 2025, has quickly established himself as an invaluable member of the backroom staff. His expertise has transformed Ghana into one of Africa’s most efficient teams from set-piece situations — with over 50 percent of the team’s goals since his arrival coming from dead-ball scenarios.
Under his analytical eye and tactical precision, Ghana successfully booked their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking to Sporty FM, De Grauwe revealed that his journey to Ghana began through a long-standing friendship with Black Stars assistant coach Desmond Ofei, whom he previously worked with in Belgium.
“We worked together in Lokeren — I was a video analyst for the first team, and Desmond was the coach of the reserves. That’s how we got to know each other about five years ago,” De Grauwe recalled. “We stayed in touch through Instagram, and one day he asked, ‘Greg, do you want to come work for us?’ Two or three days later, I had an online meeting with GFA President Kurt Okraku, and everything happened so fast.”
De Grauwe said he felt deeply honoured to join the Black Stars setup and to contribute to the success of a nation with such a rich football heritage.
“I was so happy to come to this beautiful country and work with such quality players. It was really a big honour for me to join the Black Stars,” he said with pride.
Since his arrival, De Grauwe has been praised for his meticulous attention to detail and his influence on the team’s tactical organization, particularly during set-pieces. His collaborative work with Otto Addo and the rest of the technical team has played a crucial role in Ghana’s qualification campaign.
Ghana sealed their fifth World Cup qualification after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium, finishing top of Group I with 25 points from 10 matches.
The Black Stars will now turn their attention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage draw, which will be held on December 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C., where De Grauwe will hope to help plot another successful chapter in Ghana’s football story.
