The President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku, has explained the decision to relieve Otto Addo of his duties as head coach of the Ghana national football team.
Addo, who had been reappointed on a three-year contract, was dismissed on Monday, March 31, following a series of disappointing results in Ghana’s 2026 World Cup preparatory matches.
The Black Stars suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Austria in Vienna before losing 2-1 to Germany in Stuttgart, results that intensified scrutiny on the team’s direction.
Speaking to 3Sports, Okraku said the decision was influenced by both personal observations and wider feedback from stakeholders within the football ecosystem.
“I don’t know whether it’s about what did I see or what did I hear, or perhaps both. I’ve seen Otto work over time since we engaged him. I’ve heard millions of comments. I’ve seen him prepare the team for games. I’ve seen the last four or five games that we have played. I’ve seen the group, I’ve seen the executive committee discuss the games that we have played,” he said.
He further noted that the FA’s long-term ambitions played a key role in the decision.
“And I’ve also heard about our shared vision for the World Cup. And I thought that it was time for us to look at another direction for our common vision.”
Although Addo successfully guided Ghana to qualification, his tenure was often marked by inconsistency, particularly against stronger opponents.
The Black Stars are expected to return to action in May, with friendlies scheduled against Mexico on May 22 and Wales on June 2 as part of preparations for the tournament.
Ghana will be making their fifth appearance at the FIFA World Cup 2026, having been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama, with hopes of progressing beyond the group stage for the first time since their memorable 2010 campaign.
