Ghana are close to appointing former Germany head coach Joachim Low as their new boss, according to reports.
The Black Stars have been left without a manager just 75 days before their first World Cup group game with Panama on June 18, after Ghanaian bosses sacked Otto Addo following a dire run of four defeats in a row.
Ghana were beaten 2-1 by Germany in Stuttgart on Monday night, having been thrashed 5-1 by Austria on Friday. That followed defeats by Japan and South Korea in their November friendlies.
It seems Ghana’s crisis may now be over, though reports from the country suggest that Low, who led Germany to the World Cup in 2014, is set to take over the African side ahead of the tournament.
The 66-year-old is expected to sign a short-term deal as manager, worth €150,000 (£131,000) per month, which is set to end after the World Cup.
Low has been out of work since stepping down as Germany boss after 15 years at the helm in 2021.
His final match in charge of his homeland was a 2-0 defeat to England at Wembley in the last 16 at Euro 2020.
As his tenure as Germany manager ended in despair, he made sure he left fans squirming one last time due to his strange pitchside antics.
And with the seconds ticking down, with Low’s reign as Germany boss drawing to a disappointing and emotional end after a successful 15 years in charge, the manager sent fans into a frenzy after his personal habits were caught on camera once more.
Eagle-eyed viewers spotted Low playing with his nose as he watched the play unfold at Wembley. And just moments later, the departing Germany boss appeared to then lick the same hand.
It was one of many occasions where he was caught demonstrating some unhygienic habits, and maybe we will see those same habits on display in North America this summer.
If Low does take the job, he will get the opportunity to take revenge against the Three Lions in Ghana’s second group game on June 23.
The Black Stars will be hoping Low can bring some of his tournament magic to them, as he was known for routinely guiding Germany to the latter part of major international tournaments – aside from Russia in 2018.
Low, who took over the job from Jurgen Klinsmann in 2006, also led Germany to a third-place finish at the 2010 World Cup – in which they famously knocked out England – as well as two European Championship semi-finals and one final in 2008, where they suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat against Spain.
As well as delivering Germany’s fourth World Cup success 12 years ago, Low also won the Confederations Cup in 2017.
Former boss Addo was on his second spell as coach of Ghana – before he was dismissed earlier this week – after Borussia Dortmund agreed to release him from his role in talent development at the end of the season in March 2024.
Addo already coached Ghana on an interim basis for much of 2022, including at the World Cup in Qatar, when Ghana beat South Korea but was still eliminated in the group stage.
On Monday night, the GFA said in a statement: ‘The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have parted ways with the head coach of the senior men´s national team (Black Stars), Otto Addo effective immediately.’
It gave no further details on a replacement for Addo or the reasons for the termination.
But Low is expected to be that replacement, ending his hiatus by accepting the head-coach position.
