2025 AFCONQ: Otto Addo, coach of the Black Stars, says he has no problem benching any player.

Ghana head coach, Otto Addo, has emphasized that no player is guaranteed a spot on the field, including the Black Stars’ key players.

Speaking to the media last Thursday after unveiling his squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger, the 45-year-old coach expressed his readiness to bench anyone who doesn’t perform, including high-profile players like Thomas Partey, who was notably left out of the 25-man squad.

"Local or non-local is irrelevant. Performance is the key. Why should I put you on the bench if you train well? "Why should I allow him to play if I believe you are superior to Kudus or anybody else?" he asked. "I'd like to win. I'm not doing anything only to win someone over. To tell the truth, I'm not scared. I have no problem placing someone on the bench. I'm not scared.

However, I'm examining the performance," he continued. With eight players in camp, the Black Stars started training on Monday. Today is their last practice before they take a flight to Luanda on Wednesday.

On Friday, November 15, 2024, they will play their first AFCON qualifier away against Angola at Estádio 11 de Novembro. They will play Niger in Accra at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later. With two points from four games, Ghana is now third in Group F, behind Sudan and Angola.

The Black Stars are desperate to turn things around and earn a spot in the competition, even though they have an uphill task.