Ghana’s head coach, Otto Addo, has broken his silence following calls for his dismissal after the Black Stars failed to secure a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
The team’s hopes of participating in next year’s competition in Morocco were shattered after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Angola on Friday. The result marked another setback for Ghana, which has struggled throughout the qualifiers. The Black Stars have gone five games without a win, sitting 4th in Group F with just three points, and scoring only two goals across the campaign.
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Amid growing criticism and calls for his sacking, the former Borussia Dortmund scout addressed his critics by highlighting his coaching background and the mentors he’s worked under. Addo emphasized the value of his experience with high-profile figures such as Jurgen Klopp, former Liverpool manager, and Matthias Sammer of Dortmund fame.
“I trained under Sammer. I trained under Klopp; I was assistant to Edin Terzic, who was Dortmund’s head coach,” Addo explained to the press. “They are also critical of certain things, but it means more to me if someone like Jurgen Klopp says this or that, rather than random criticism from outsiders.”
Addo acknowledged the team’s poor performance, stating, “People can judge me, and surely, most will judge me by the results, which were not good.”
The Black Stars are set to conclude their AFCON qualifying campaign with a home fixture against Niger on Monday at the Accra Sports Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 GMT.
