Six Years, Four coaches: The GFA and the Black Stars' managerial story

“For who he is and for what he has achieved for Ghana, we firmly believe that this is not matry makw3, because he has done it,” these were the words of Kurt Okraku, the president of the Ghana Football Association during the unveiling of Milovan Rajevac back in 2021.

Speaking in Ga, he emphasised that Rajevac’s appointment was not an experiment; they were bringing in someone they trusted to deliver results.

Yet, since that bold statement, the Black Stars have cycled through four different head coaches in six years, including an interim appointment that briefly brought stability but ultimately added to a revolving door at the helm.

Each appointment came with hope, promise, and fanfare, but each ended amid frustration, unmet expectations, and mounting criticism.

Ghana FA boss explains Otto Addo sacking

The coaching carousel

Charles Akonnor (Jan 2020 – Sep 2021)

Charles Akonnor took over at a time when the Black Stars were under pressure to perform on the continental stage.

Across 10 matches, he secured four wins, two draws, and suffered four losses, giving him a 40% win rate.

His tenure was marked by glimpses of promise, but inconsistency and missed opportunities during World Cup qualifiers made it hard to build sustained momentum.

Despite working to integrate young talent and instill discipline, Akonnor’s spell ended in September 2021 amid mounting calls for change.

Milovan Rajevac (Sep 2021 – Jan 2022)

Serbian tactician Milovan Rajevac returned for a second stint in September 2021, bringing experience and a familiarity with African football.

In eight matches, Ghana managed three wins, two draws, and three losses, a 37.5% win rate.

Rajevac’s tenure was short-lived, ending after a disappointing AFCON campaign.

While his tactical expertise was respected, he could not overcome lingering weaknesses within the squad, leaving fans frustrated and administrators scrambling for alternatives.

Otto Addo (interim, Feb 2022 – Dec 2022)

Otto Addo stepped in as interim coach ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Tasked with navigating a high-pressure tournament, Addo injected stability and belief into a team recovering from managerial instability.

He guided Ghana through the World Cup, keeping morale high and providing clear tactical direction.

Although temporary, his tenure offered a glimmer of hope and demonstrated his ability to manage under pressure, a skill that would later see him return for a full-time spell.

Chris Hughton (Feb 2023 – Jan 2024)

Chris Hughton arrived in February 2023 with the challenge of rebuilding consistency.

Over 13 matches, he recorded four wins, five draws, and four losses, translating to a 30.8% win rate.

Hughton sought to integrate new talent and steady a side rattled by constant changes, but the AFCON group-stage exit overshadowed his efforts.

His spell highlighted the difficulties of creating cohesion in a team under relentless scrutiny and rising expectations.

Otto Addo (Mar 2024 – Mar 2026)

Addo returned in March 2024 to lead the Black Stars with the hope of providing stability and long-term direction.

Across 34 games, he managed 12 wins, nine draws, and 13 losses, giving him a 36.4% win rate.

Despite moments of promise and competitive performances, his tenure was plagued by inconsistency, broken records, and mounting pressure.

The culmination of disappointing results and a string of historic defeats ultimately led to his dismissal in March 2026, marking the end of another turbulent chapter in Ghanaian football.

The cost of instability

Frequent managerial changes have come at a heavy financial cost. Otto Addo’s sacking alone required $500,000 in severance, with 10 months left on his $50,000-a-month contract.

Yet he was just one part of a larger expenditure on coaching exits under Kurt Okraku:

Chris Hughton (2024) – approximately $68,904, including signing fees and dues.

Milovan Rajevac (2022) – $117,000 following a FIFA ruling after his dismissal.

C.K.Akonnor (2021) – around $120,000 in payouts and arrears.

Since 2019, the total spent on coach exits exceeds $805,000, not including other staff payouts or hidden costs.

A search for stability

Six years, four coaches, hundreds of thousands of dollars spent, and still the Black Stars are searching for consistency and clear direction.

Each coach brought hope, each tenure ended with questions, and each exit carried a price tag.

For the GFA, the challenge now is not only to select a capable leader but to provide the conditions for long-term success; otherwise, the cycle of instability may continue, leaving Ghanaian football chasing the same elusive dream of sustained excellence.

FKA/EB

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