Black Stars assistant coach Roger De Sa has confirmed that his time with Ghana’s senior national team was always intended to be short-term, revealing that his contract with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) was only for the duration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The experienced South African coach disclosed that his agreement runs until the end of July, bringing an end to his involvement with the Black Stars unless a new arrangement is reached with the football authorities.
De Sa was appointed as part of Carlos Queiroz’s technical team shortly before the World Cup after the GFA decided to replace Otto Addo in a bid to revive Ghana’s fortunes ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Although the coaching staff had only a limited period to prepare the squad, they managed to guide the Black Stars to the knockout stage for the first time since the 2010 FIFA World Cup before their campaign eventually ended with a narrow defeat to Colombia.
With Ghana now shifting its focus to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, uncertainty remains over the future of both Queiroz and the members of his technical team.
De Sa confirms World Cup deal has reached its conclusion
Speaking in an interview with KickOff, De Sa made it clear that his appointment was specifically tied to Ghana’s World Cup campaign and that the agreement will officially expire at the end of the month.
“I was only contracted until the end of July, so that’s it.”
The former goalkeeper explained that there were never any guarantees beyond the tournament.
“My contract was just for the World Cup, and it ends on the 31st of July.”
His comments provide further clarity regarding the composition of Ghana’s technical team, which was assembled shortly before the tournament as the Black Stars sought to recover from a difficult period under their previous coaching setup.
While De Sa has confirmed that his current deal is ending, he did not indicate whether discussions have taken place regarding a possible extension or future role with the national team.
Brought in to support Carlos Queiroz
De Sa joined the Black Stars after Carlos Queiroz was appointed head coach in April following the dismissal of Otto Addo.
The Portuguese manager assembled a technical team that included trusted assistants capable of helping him prepare Ghana for one of the biggest challenges in international football despite having only a few weeks before the tournament began.
One of De Sa’s primary responsibilities involved assessing players based across Europe before the World Cup squad was selected.
The South African coach previously revealed that he spent several weeks travelling across Europe, watching Ghanaian players in action for their clubs before helping the technical team settle on the final 26-man squad.
That extensive scouting exercise formed a key part of Ghana’s preparations as the coaches attempted to build a competitive team within an extremely limited timeframe.
A difficult assignment from the beginning
The World Cup project presented numerous challenges for the coaching staff from the moment they accepted the job.
Before the tournament, De Sa admitted that Ghana had been struggling badly, having suffered a lengthy run of defeats before the arrival of the new technical team.
He explained that restoring confidence became one of the immediate priorities.
The coaching staff also had to contend with injuries, limited preparation time and the logistical difficulties of assembling players scattered across different European leagues.
Despite those obstacles, the Black Stars entered the tournament with renewed belief under Queiroz and his assistants.
Ghana’s World Cup campaign showed encouraging signs
Although Ghana’s World Cup journey ended earlier than many supporters had hoped, there were several positives from the tournament.
The Black Stars began their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama, giving the team valuable momentum heading into their second group match.
That was followed by an impressive goalless draw against England, a performance that highlighted Ghana’s improved defensive organisation and tactical discipline.
The final group fixture produced a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Croatia, but Ghana’s overall performances were enough to secure qualification for the knockout stage as one of the competition’s best third-placed teams.
It marked the Black Stars’ first appearance in the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup since South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010.
The achievement represented significant progress considering the short preparation period and the challenges the coaching staff inherited upon taking charge.
Colombia bring Ghana’s campaign to an end
Ghana’s impressive run eventually came to an end in the Round of 32 against Colombia.
Jhon Arias scored the decisive goal in the opening stages of the contest, giving the South Americans an early advantage that ultimately proved enough to secure victory.
Despite Ghana’s efforts to fight their way back into the match, the Black Stars were unable to find an equaliser and exited the tournament after a narrow 1-0 defeat.
The result ended Ghana’s hopes of reaching the latter stages of the competition but also demonstrated that the team had become considerably more competitive during Queiroz’s short spell in charge.
Several players later praised the positive atmosphere created within the squad, while others expressed confidence that the experience would provide a strong foundation for future competitions.
Technical team faces uncertain future
With De Sa’s contract due to expire, attention now turns to the future of Ghana’s entire technical setup.
Questions continue to surround Carlos Queiroz’s position after confusion followed his emotional social media message after the World Cup.
Although many interpreted the post as a resignation, the Portuguese coach later clarified that he had not stepped down and was simply expressing gratitude to Ghanaians for their support.
The Ghana Football Association has also indicated that no official resignation has been received from the veteran manager.
As a result, uncertainty remains regarding whether Queiroz and his assistants will continue leading the national team into the next qualification campaign.
Should the GFA decide to retain the Portuguese tactician, fresh negotiations would likely be required for members of his technical staff whose contracts expire this month.
Focus shifts to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers
Following the conclusion of the World Cup, Ghana’s immediate attention now turns to qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars have been drawn in a challenging Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia.
The qualifying campaign is expected to begin in September, giving the Ghana Football Association only a limited period to finalise its technical direction before competitive football resumes.
Whether that journey begins under Carlos Queiroz or a different head coach remains one of the biggest questions facing Ghanaian football.
For Roger De Sa, however, the situation is much clearer. Unless a new agreement is reached, his assignment with the Black Stars officially concludes on July 31, bringing to an end a brief but eventful spell in which he helped Ghana return to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 16 years.
While his future remains uncertain, De Sa leaves having played a role in restoring belief within the national team during one of its most important international campaigns in recent years.
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