Oti Akenteng slams GFA for ‘disrespect’ of local coaches in national team appointments

Former Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Francis Oti Akenteng, has questioned the role of the institution in ignoring local coaches during national team appointments.

Akenteng’s statement follows Kim Lars Björkegren’s appointment as the interim technical team lead for the Black Stars ahead of the doubleheader against Somalia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Black Stars have lost their opening two matches in the qualifiers following a 2-0 defeat to Ivory Coast in Bouaké and a humiliating 4-2 loss to Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The results led to former Portuguese head coach Carlos Queiroz and the GFA mutually parting ways.

Bjorkegren will be assisted by Medeama head coach Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram, with Fatawu Dauda still remaining the goalkeeper coach.

Akenteng admitted that Ghana has many experienced local coaches, and when given the privilege, could coach the Black Stars on an interim basis.

“There are local coaches who are capable of coaching the Black Stars,” he said in an interview with Asempa FM.

“If they are always overlooked, that is a sign of disrespect, and if the local coaches are not respected, they will not have an interest in coaching."

Black Stars remain at the bottom of Group C and are set to face Somalia in November, after which Bjorkegren will turn attention to the Black Queens, who fight for a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup with the play-off preliminary phase scheduled between November 24 and December 5, 2026.