Three Germans, one Dutchman and a Frenchman are in the running to become Ghana's technical adviser in time for the African Nations Cup finals. The list of five men is headed by Otto Pfister, the German who led the Under-17 side to World Championship glory in Italy in 1991 and who presently is coach of Egyptian champions Zamalek.

The others Germans are Burkhard Zieze who was in charge of the national side in 1990 and Eckard Krautzen who led Tunisia to World Cup qualification in 1998 but was sacked a few months ago.

Also named by the Ghanaian press as candidates are former Nigeria coach Johannes Bonfrere, although it may take a significant financial package to lure the Dutchman away from his lucrative contract in the United Arab Emirates, and Frenchman Pierre Lechantre who guided Cameroon to African Nations success early last year.

Lechantre is out of work thanks to a disappointing Confederations Cup campaign in South Korea and Japan this summer.

The search for a foreign coach to take over from Ghanaian Fred Osam Duodu has been intensified after sportswear manufacturers Adidas agreed a sponsorship deal with the Ghanaian FA, which could go some way to providing the necessary funds to pay for a high-profile coach.

A spokesman for the chairman of Ghana's Football Association indicated the profile of the ideal candidate, saying: "The man we want must have a proven track record in African football."

All the names cited fit the description perfectly.