Former Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Francis Oti Akenteng, has called on Ghanaians to rally behind Black Stars coach Otto Addo as he prepares the team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Addo led Ghana to qualification for the global tournament after topping Group I with 25 points, becoming the first coach to guide the Black Stars to back-to-back World Cup qualifications. This achievement came despite missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking the first time in over 20 years that Ghana failed to qualify for the continental competition.
In recent weeks, sections of fans and pundits have called for Addo’s dismissal ahead of the World Cup. However, Oti Akenteng, now Director of Football at Kenpong Academy, dismissed such suggestions, urging unity and patience.
Speaking on The Arena on Woezor TV, he said:
“I believe we must encourage Otto Addo. He has a technical advisor [Winfried Schäfer], and since the appointment of the technical advisor, he has not lost a game. Although he has not yet reached the level we all wish for in the matches he has played, he has qualified the team for the World Cup, so I believe we must encourage him and also try to retain the technical advisor.”
Oti Akenteng also praised assistant coach Desmond Ofei, who recently obtained his UEFA Pro Licence, stressing the need to support local coaches.
“Fortunately, Desmond Ofei, who is an assistant coach, has obtained his UEFA Pro Licence, so I believe all he needs is encouragement. Let us look at what Senegal did, and let us also encourage our own. If we had done that, Kwesi Appiah would have taken the team far, but we failed to support him, and Sudan came for him, and they are benefiting from him.”
Reaffirming his confidence in Addo’s leadership, Oti Akenteng added:
“What I just want to say is that Otto Addo is our coach and we must support him, and I believe the team will go far. This is his second time he has qualified the country for the World Cup, and I believe that he can build on what he has done.”
The Black Stars will discover their group-stage opponents for the 2026 World Cup on December 5. As part of preparations, Ghana will face Japan in an international friendly on Friday, November 14, before taking on South Korea four days later.
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