Former Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sa has officially completed his move to the Ghana national football team, stepping in as assistant coach ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
De Sa will work alongside head coach Carlos Queiroz during the global tournament set to take place across United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
The appointment reunites De Sa and Queiroz, a duo with a well-established working relationship from previous stints with:
- Egypt national football team
- Iran national football team
Speaking to Kickoff, he expalined that their chemistry and familiarity are expected to be crucial as Ghana races against time to prepare for the Mundial.
“This happened very quickly,” De Sa revealed, confirming he will arrive in Accra to begin work immediately.
This will be De Sa’s third FIFA World Cup and his seventh role with a national team, bringing a wealth of international experience into the Black Stars’ technical bench.
However, he is under no illusions about the scale of the task ahead.
“The biggest challenge is selecting a team without having enough time. Preparations are very short ,you’ve got about two weeks,” he admitted.
With most Ghanaian players based in Europe, logistics, scouting, and tactical integration become even more complex.
The condensed timeline presents multiple hurdles:
- Limited time for training and tactical cohesion
- Heavy reliance on video analysis and scouting
- Minimal opportunities for friendly matches
Despite this, De Sa has already begun reviewing player performances across clubs, emphasizing preparation behind the scenes.
He believes the Black stars must reclaim their stature on the global stage.
“The Black Stars have been in the shadows… a country like Ghana should be doing much better with the quality of players they produce.”
It’s a bold statement that reflects both ambition and realism.
Ghana face a challenging task in Group L, where they will come up against:
- England
- Croatia
- Panama
With limited preparation time, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Interestingly, De Sa revealed there is no rigid mandate to win, but rather a broader objective:
“The job is to go to the World Cup and fly the Ghanaian flag as high as possible.”
As Roger De Sa touches down in Accra, the countdown to the World Cup truly begins for Ghana.
With experience on the bench and talent on the pitch, the challenge is clear:
turn preparation into performance fast.
