Story by Louisa Kukua Barnes

The Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Kojo Twum Boafo has called for an overhaul of the Ghana national football team, the Black Stars, following the recent losses of the team against Austria and Germany and the unexpected dismissal of the team’s coach.

According to him, the team must begin phasing out some senior players to make way for younger players capable of shaping a new generation in Ghanaian football.

“We need to build the team around players like Semenyo and Kudus. They are the players for the next generation,” he stated.

Senior players that need to be phased out would include Jordan Ayew and Thomas Partey and some other long serving players of the national team.

He stressed that after the World Cup, decisive steps must be taken to refresh the squad.

“After the World Cup, we have to be seen to retire some of the older players and let the younger players put a stamp on the team,” he said.

Mr Boafo also emphasized the need for a strong and authoritative coach to lead the team moving forward.

“They have to bring in a coach who has the pedigree, someone the players will not see as a pushover. If he’s making a change, he’s making a change. If he’s benching someone, he’s benching someone,” he added.

He further noted that such a coach should have experience managing top-level players, in order to curb any sense of entitlement within the squad.