Nii Lante Vanderpuye criticizes GFA leadership, questions future of Black Stars
4th December 2024
Former Youth and Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has expressed grave concerns about the future of the Black Stars, asserting that the current Ghana Football Association (GFA) leadership would hinder the team’s success regardless of who manages them—even football icons like Pep Guardiola or Jürgen Klopp.
The ex-minister’s remarks come in the wake of the Black Stars’ dismal failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking their first absence from the tournament since 2004.
The four-time African champions endured a winless qualifiers campaign, finishing last in Group F with just three points, derived from three draws and three losses across six games.
Vanderpuye, who is also the Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, did not mince words when addressing the situation.
He declared that, had he still been the Sports Minister, he would have dissolved the GFA entirely to facilitate a complete overhaul of Ghana football.
“If I were the Sports Minister, I would disband the GFA,” Vanderpuye said in an interview with Kumasi-based Kessben FM.
“Yes, FIFA would suspend us for six months, but we could use that time to restructure and prepare properly for the next AFCON qualifiers.”
He argued that the Black Stars’ struggles go beyond coaching, pointing to autocratic tendencies within the GFA’s leadership.
According to Vanderpuye, the association’s tight grip over decisions, from player selection to staff management, undermines the team’s progress.
“Why should we always sit back and allow the GFA to sack the coach when the Black Stars fail?” he asked. “The problem is bigger than coaching.
Even if you hire Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp, or any top coach, without structural changes, we will still fail.
We’ve created a setup where one person controls the players, appoints the coach, and even manages ballboys and the team doctor.
How can the Black Stars thrive under such conditions?”
The Black Stars will have a chance to redeem themselves when they regroup in March 2025 to face Chad in match-day five of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
However, Vanderpuye’s sharp critique raises questions about the team’s trajectory under the current administrative structure.