By Martin Graham
Otto Addo has been relieved of his duties as head coach of Ghana national football team just 72 days ahead of the upcoming World Cup. The decision was confirmed after a difficult run of matches, including a 2-1 loss to Germany national football team in Stuttgart and a heavy 5-1 defeat against Austria national football team in Vienna.
These back-to-back setbacks extended Ghana’s losing streak to four matches, intensifying pressure on the coaching staff. Despite having attacking options such as Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus, the team struggled to deliver positive outcomes during this period.
The Ghana Football Association announced that it had “parted ways” with Addo, confirming that the decision takes effect immediately. The governing body also stated that further details regarding the team’s future direction will be shared in due course.
The second spell ends abruptly
Addo, aged 50, was born in Germany and spent his entire playing career there. During his time as a player, he earned 15 international appearances for Ghana before moving into coaching.
He began his second tenure as head coach in March 2024, but his return did not bring the desired progress. One of the major disappointments during this spell was Ghana’s failure to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The combination of inconsistent performances and disappointing results ultimately led to the federation’s decision to make a managerial change at a critical moment in the team’s preparations.
World Cup challenge awaits
The upcoming World Cup, hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States, is scheduled to take place from 11 June to 19 July.
Ghana has been drawn into a group alongside England national football team, Panama national football team, and Croatia national football team. Their campaign will begin against Panama on 18 June.
They will then face England on 23 June before concluding their group fixtures against Croatia on 27 June, as the Black Stars prepare for the tournament under new leadership.
