Gregory De Grauwe Reveals Tactical Secrets Behind Ghana’s Set-Piece Mastery
Ghana’s set-piece coach and video analyst, Gregory De Grauwe, has opened up about the tactical intelligence and teamwork that transformed the Black Stars into one of Africa’s most dangerous sides from dead-ball situations during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Belgian tactician, who joined Otto Addo’s backroom staff in March 2025 upon the recommendation of assistant coach Desmond Ofei, explained that Ghana’s set-piece success was the result of detailed planning, adaptability, and player execution rather than any rigid formula.
“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 emphasized that Ghana’s effectiveness from set plays was a collective achievement, with several players contributing to both the creation and conversion of chances.
“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 his arrival, the Belgian coach has worked closely with Otto Addo’s technical team to fine-tune set-piece routines while maintaining the core structure already in place.
“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.”
The team will discover their group-stage opponents when the World Cup draw takes place on December 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
