I’m happy we didn’t sack Otto Addo after AFCON failure – Kurt Okraku

Kurt Okraku has defended the Ghana Football Association’s decision to retain Otto Addo as head coach of the Ghana national football team following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Speaking to 3Sports, the President of the GFA revealed that both he and the GFA Executive Council never considered dismissing Addo at the time, despite the intense pressure that followed Ghana’s disappointing AFCON qualifying campaign.

The Black Stars endured a difficult period under Addo, failing to record a single win during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers and finishing bottom of their group.

Breakdown of compensation paid to last 4 Black Stars coaches

The results meant Ghana missed the continental tournament for the first time in two decades, prompting widespread calls from fans and pundits for the coach to be removed.

However, the GFA leadership decided to stick with the former Borussia Dortmund assistant coach.

“I never believed that I had to let the coach go at that time, and we never believed as an ExCo that we had to let the coach go at that time. Sometimes, there are auxiliary reasons why certain decisions have to be taken or not taken. Some of these reasons are not available to a lot of people, so it’s normal when people share their opinions about the direction we should go,” he said.

According to the GFA president, that decision eventually paid off after Otto Addo guided Ghana to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“But I look back and I’m happy that we took that decision. In the end, we qualified for the Mundial with the same gaffer, and I don’t regret it at all,” he added.

Despite the successful qualification campaign, Otto Addo’s tenure eventually came to an end in March 2026.

The GFA announced his dismissal just hours after Ghana’s 2–1 friendly defeat to Germany in Stuttgart, which followed another loss to Austria during the March international break.

FKA/JE

Also watch as football fans speak on Otto Addo's sacking