Medeama SC head coach Ibrahim Tanko has thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant Black Stars coaching position, insisting he would not hesitate to accept the national team assignment if he is convinced he has the confidence and backing of the authorities.
Ghana are once again searching for a permanent occupant of the Black Stars hot seat following the reported exit of Carlos Queiroz, whose brief tenure ended amid disagreements with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation over the conditions surrounding his role.
With the national team expected to reconvene in September ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, the GFA faces another important decision over who should steer the country’s flagship football team.
Assistant coach Desmond Ofei has been mentioned among the contenders for the position, while Tanko’s name has also gained traction on the back of his extensive experience within the national-team structure.
The former Black Stars assistant under Kwesi Appiah believes he could be entrusted with the responsibility, provided the football authorities are convinced he is the appropriate candidate and are prepared to give him the resources and institutional support required to succeed.
“If the Black Stars coaching opportunity comes and the authorities believe I’m the right man for the job, why not?” Tanko told Asempa FM.
Tanko is no stranger to the demands of managing Ghanaian national teams. He previously took charge of the Black Meteors, the country’s Under-23 side, although his tenure ended without qualification for the Olympic Games.
His current work at Medeama has further strengthened his credentials as a coach capable of operating at the highest levels of Ghanaian domestic football, while his previous involvement with the senior national team gives him an understanding of the expectations and pressures that accompany the Black Stars job.
An appointment would also place Tanko in a significant position in the history of Kurt Okraku’s GFA presidency, with the next substantive Black Stars coach set to become the seventh to occupy the role during Okraku’s tenure.
The appointment comes at a particularly delicate moment for Ghanaian football. The Black Stars failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, making qualification for the 2027 edition an immediate priority. The tournament will be staged jointly by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
For Tanko, the possibility of returning to the national-team fold would offer an opportunity to bring his experience, tactical knowledge and familiarity with Ghanaian football to the country’s biggest football assignment.
But his comments also underline a crucial condition: ambition alone will not be enough. Should the GFA turn to him, Tanko wants to know that the institution is prepared to stand firmly behind its coach as Ghana attempts to rebuild the Black Stars and restore their place among Africa’s elite.
