Ghana football faces criticism over coaching and tactical development

Ghanaian football is facing scrutiny regarding its coaching strategies and the treatment of local technical staff. Following the Black Starlets' failure to qualify for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, Young Apostles head coach Abu Abdul-Hanan attributed the loss to a lack of tactical education. He noted that while young players possess natural talent, they lack the collective tactical understanding required for high-level competition, suggesting that improvements must begin at the U-15 and U-17 developmental levels.

Simultaneously, former Ghana Football Association (GFA) technical director Francis Oti Akenteng has criticized the GFA for overlooking local coaches. This follows the appointment of Swedish coach Kim Lars Björkegren as interim technical lead for the Black Queens ahead of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Somalia. Akenteng argued that the repeated preference for foreign staff over qualified local candidates shows a lack of respect for domestic expertise.