Winfried Schafer Wants Vacant Black Stars Job Despite Just Joining Iranian Club

• Winfried Schafer has confirmed he applied for Ghana's national head coaching job
• The German won the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations with a talented Cameroon squad
• Ghana sacked Chris Hughton after an underwhelming performance in Ivory Coast

The Black Stars job may be one of the toughest riddles to solve on the African continent.

Bundles of talent, a generational legacy, and a demanding public gives whoever takes charge of Ghana the possibility of rich rewards, or painful exile.

A 74-year-old German, who has overcome this challenge before, has stood up to claim that he is able to solve this conundrum.

Winfried Schafer guided Cameroon to the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations title and wants one more shot at international glory.

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He is currently contracted to a team in Iran’s Persian Gulf Pro League, Sanat Naft. Tehran Times reported in early January that 'Winnie' had taken on the responsibility of saving them from relegation.

The veteran European believes he has a roadmap to Ghanaian prosperity, starting from the ground upwards. SoccerLaduma quoted Schafer's confirmation:

"I have applied for the job. I am ready to work with some former players who are doing well in their coaching careers. I would spend much of my time in the country to help get qualified players in the league to be part of the Black Stars."

The trend of turning to former players to resurrect national team fortunes across Africa looks to continue in Ghana, with pundits suggesting Black Stars legends Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah, and Laryea Kingston should take the reigns.

Schafer's openness to collaboration could be a winning formula, much in the way Hugo Broos relied on Helman Mkhelele for Bafana Bafana.

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Black Stars supporters will demand more than a bronze medal, however, as they aim to restore their continental reputation.

Possible Black Stars coaching replacements

Sports Brief also recently compiled a list of four coaches who could possibly take charge of the Black Stars.

Chirs Hughton was fired after Ghana squandered a two-goal lead to Mozambique in their final AFCON game.

A list of possible replacements include tacticians with trusted African experience and ex-Black Stars legends.