The Ghana Football Association has reportedly parted ways with former Black Stars assistant coach John Paintsil as part of a broader restructuring of the national team’s technical setup ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Paintsil, who previously played for clubs such as West Ham United and Fulham FC, was brought into the Black Stars technical team following the reappointment of Otto Addo in March 2024.
He initially served as an assistant coach before transitioning into a high-performance role within the team’s backroom staff.
His departure comes in the wake of Addo’s dismissal, signaling a significant overhaul of the team’s technical structure.
The shake-up has also seen the exit of technical director Winfried Anton Schäfer, further highlighting the scale of changes being implemented.
In a major reset, the GFA has appointed experienced Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz on a short-term four-month contract, which is subject to review after the World Cup.
Queiroz, who has managed top sides including the Portugal national team, Iran, Real Madrid CF, and Egypt, is expected to assemble his own technical team as he prepares to lead Ghana on the global stage.
The restructuring reflects a strategic shift by the GFA as the Black Stars gear up for their fifth FIFA World Cup appearance.
With limited time before the tournament, the focus appears to be on bringing in a fresh tactical approach and experienced leadership capable of delivering immediate results.
Ghana has been drawn in a challenging group for the tournament, where they will face the Panama national team, the England national team, and the Croatia national team.
The Black Stars are set to open their campaign against Panama on June 17, followed by matches against England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.
The appointment of Queiroz is widely seen as a calculated move aimed at stabilising the team and improving performance after a period of inconsistency.
Known for his tactical discipline and experience across multiple international teams, he is expected to introduce new training methods and strategies tailored to maximise the squad’s potential within a short timeframe.
Ghana will be aiming to match or surpass their historic achievement at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals—still the nation’s best performance at the tournament.
As preparations intensify, the changes within the technical team signal a new direction for the Black Stars.
The coming months will be crucial in determining whether this restructuring can deliver the desired impact and position Ghana as a strong contender on football’s biggest stage.
