Black Stars set-piece coach and video analyst Gregory De Grauwe has offered rare insight into the inner workings of his role, outlining how data, structure, and precision underpin Ghana’s preparation as they head to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Belgian specialist, who was brought aboard to join Otto Addo’s technical team in March 2025, explained that his job extends far beyond training ground routines, encompassing constant analysis, opponent profiling, and in-depth matchday planning.
“Even now in Europe, it’s not so big, but it’s growing - especially in the Premier League, where some big teams now have a set-piece coach,” De Grauwe told Sporty FM.
“You see, it’s becoming increasingly important in the football world. I’ll give an example from this week after the game that we played against the Central African Republic.”
According to De Grauwe, his process begins almost immediately after the final whistle.
“On the plane, you already analyse our game - what went really well and the things we can improve,” he said. “The next day, we show this to the players. Then, I receive the clips of Comoros, our next opponent, and start doing the analysis. Two days before the game, we show the attacking set pieces of the opponent - how they operate, what we need to watch out for, and we reproduce that in training.”
The Belgian also revealed how his final preparations unfold on the eve of a match.
“Game day minus one, we show what they are doing defensively and train our variations - the zones we want to target,” he explained. “On match day, it’s all about clarity. Every player must know his task and position, so we put it on paper in the dressing room. During the game, when substitutions happen, it can get hectic, but we manage it so that everyone knows exactly what to do when he comes in. So this is a little bit of the daily workflow of what I do now.”
De Grauwe’s influence has been widely credited with sharpening Ghana’s set-piece efficiency - a crucial factor in the Black Stars successful qualification campaign.
Ghana will know their group-stage opponents for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on December 5, during the official draw ceremony in Washington, D.C.
By: Pascal Amoah
