Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) presidential hopeful Amanda Clinton has urged the country’s football leadership to turn to seasoned Portuguese manager Fernando Santos as they search for a new head coach for the Ghana national football team.
With the GFA preparing to appoint a replacement in the coming days, the coaching position became vacant following the exit of Otto Addo after the March international window.
His departure followed a difficult run of results, including a heavy defeat to Austria and another setback against Germany in friendly matches meant to fine-tune the squad ahead of the World Cup.
As speculation intensifies, several experienced names have surfaced as potential successors. Among those reportedly under consideration are Carlos Queiroz, Paulo Bento, Tom Saintfiet, and Slaven Bilić.
GFA interested in Félix Sánchez Bas as Black Stars coaching search heats up
However, Clinton believes Santos stands above the rest, pointing to his vast experience and proven ability on the international stage. In an interview with Citi Sports, she made a passionate case for his appointment, highlighting his track record with elite national teams.
“The Black Stars will do very well if we get a good coach like Santos, who led Portugal to great success, so if we get a good coach and excellent people on the team,…of course, we can win,” she said.
Santos is widely respected for his managerial achievements, having enjoyed success at club level with FC Porto before making his mark internationally. He famously guided the Portugal national football team to glory at the 2016 UEFA European Championship and later added the UEFA Nations League title to his résumé.
The GFA is expected to conclude its search soon, with an official announcement anticipated within the week. Attention is already turning to upcoming fixtures, as Ghana prepares to reconvene in May for a friendly clash against Mexico, followed by another test against Wales in early June.
Ibrahim Saanie Daara urges caution in Black Stars coaching search
Looking further ahead, the Black Stars face a demanding challenge on the global stage. They have been drawn into a competitive group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will come up against Panama, England, and Croatia in Group L.
