Coach Gregory De Grauwe: Black Starsâ?? set-piece success built on hard work, not secrets

Ghana’s set-piece coach and video analyst, Gregory De Grauwe, has shared key insights into the tactical approach that turned the Black Stars into a set-piece force during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The Belgian, who joined the national team in March 2025 on the recommendation of assistant coach Desmond Ofei, revealed that Ghana’s success was built on adaptability, teamwork, and execution rather than any single secret strategy.

“It depends a little bit on what the opponent was doing, so we adapted our style," De Grauwe told Footy-Africa. "Sometimes, like you saw against the Central African Republic, we targeted the second zone and overloaded it with a couple of players. It depends on the opponent, and we try to bring surprises every time."

De Grauwe praised the collective effort of the squad, pointing out that both delivery and finishing quality have been crucial to Ghana’s improvement.

"I can’t say this one or that one because Jordan Ayew kicks them so well, Mohammed Kudus kicks them so well - they both have assists. Alexander Djiku scored, Mohammed Salisu scored, it’s everybody. The more variations we have, the more big guys we have, the harder it is to defend us."

Since joining Otto Addo’s technical team, De Grauwe said his role has been to build on existing foundations rather than overhaul the system.

"I didn’t make any adjustments because I didn’t know what was done before. I just came with some ideas, talked a lot with Otto [Addo], Desmond, and the rest of the staff. We discussed what we could improve, worked hard on it, and now it’s paying off. There’s no secret concept, just hard work and the quality of the players."

Ghana sealed qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Comoros, finishing top of Group I with 25 points from 10 matches.

Ghana will learn their group opponents on December 5, 2025, when the World Cup draw is held in Washington, D.C.

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