Former Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has advised aspiring Ghanaian coaches to build their experience at club level before being considered for the Black Stars job, insisting the current crop is not yet ready to handle the national team.
His comments come amid intense speculation over the vacant coaching position following the departure of Otto Addo, with debates ongoing about whether a local or foreign coach should take charge.
While aligning partly with calls for change, Vanderpuye ruled out the need for a European coach, instead backing the appointment of an experienced African tactician.
“I agree with Rev. Osei Kofi to an extent, but inasmuch as I say we don’t need European coaches, I think we need an African coach,” he stated.
Despite acknowledging Ghana’s history of success with local coaches, he stressed that the current generation must develop further before taking on such a high-profile role.
“We won trophies in the past with Ghanaian coaches, but they were good coaches. Otto Addo, Ibrahim Tanko, CK Akonnor, Godwin Attram, Laryea Kingston and others are all coming up. They have not gotten to where we can entrust the Black Stars into their hands,” he explained.
Vanderpuye offered clear guidance to the coaches, urging them to focus on building their credentials.
“They should go and start at the club level to build their résumés and capacity,” he advised.
With just over two months to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Ghana Football Association is expected to appoint a new coach soon. Ghana will compete in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama, with their campaign set to begin on June 17 in Toronto.
