Kurt Okraku reveals reasons for mass sacking of national team coaches

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku says the dismal performance of the various national teams last year is the reason for the sacking of all the national team coaches.

In a drastic and unexpected move last week the GFA fired all the coaches for the men's and women's senior national teams and all men's and women's youth teams.

High-profile casualties of the decision include Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah and his assistant Charles Kwabla (CK) Akunnor, Black Queens coach Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoo and Black Meteors coach Ibrahim Tanko.

Also without a job are Yaw Preko – Black Satellites coach, Evans Adotey – Black Maidens coach, Yusif Basigi – Black Princesses coach and Samuel Boadu – U-15 coach.

In all, nine coaches were removed without a firm reason being given when they were all sacked on Thursday night and now Okraku has revealed that the disastrous results of the various national teams led to the sackings.

“We have not been as competitive as we want to be in all our national levels," GFA President Kurt Okraku said.

"We need to find ways to be competitive, bring the love back and bring the teams back into the finals and in the end, win trophies.

"This is what the council also aims to achieve that is why this was done,” Okraku added.

The move means Kwesi Appiah has been fired as coach of the men's senior team for the second time. Appiah appears to have paid for Ghana's disappointing African Cup of Nations campaign last year in Egypt, when the Black Stars lost to Tunisia on penalties in the last 16.

Last year was another disappointing campaign for the national teams.

Starting in February, the national U-20 men’s team exited the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations at the group stage.

In June, the senior national team, Black Stars exited the Africa Cup of Nations at the last 16 stage - the first time since 2008.

October saw Black Queens miss out on qualification to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Also, the local Black Stars failed to defend their WAFU Cup of Nations crown as they were beaten in the final by Senegal.

The national U-23 team, Black Meteors rounded off the disappointment in November when they failed to qualify for the Olympic Games after finishing fourth at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.