Veteran administrator Fitzgerald Barkers Woode says Ghana must not rush the next Black Stars appointment after Carlos Queiroz's exit.
Ghana's Black Stars are without a head coach, and one of the country's seasoned football administrators is begging the decision-makers not to panic. Fitzgerald Barkers Woode, popularly known as Nana Fitz, has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to take their time before naming the next man to lead the four-time African champions.
The vacancy follows the departure of Portuguese tactician Carlos Queiroz after a disappointing start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The GFA and the Sports Ministry have responded by setting up a five-member committee to identify and recommend a suitable candidate for the job.
In the meantime, an interim technical team is expected to take charge of Ghana's back-to-back qualifiers against Somalia next month. A substantive head coach is expected to be unveiled after those fixtures.
Barkers Woode's message is simple: rushing is how you end up back at square one. He argues the next appointment must come from a clear understanding of Ghanaian football and the challenges that come with it. In his view, the GFA should prioritise a coach who knows the local football environment, the country's playing philosophy and the conditions surrounding the national team.
That familiarity, he believes, would help the new coach settle quickly and deliver the results a restless fan base demands. With qualifying pressure mounting and the committee now at work, all eyes are on Accra to see whether patience or urgency wins out.
