GFA criticized Black Stars over Otto Addo's reappointment

Otto Addo's reappointment as head coach of the Black Stars has drawn criticism from former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie and the present GFA administration. Otto Addo, 47, was reinstated as head coach after Chris Hughton was fired after Ghana's group-stage loss at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. He agreed to a three-year deal with a two-year extension option. But during Addo's leadership, Ghana missed the 2025 AFCON for the first time in 20 years as the Black Stars were unable to qualify.

Ghana ended at the bottom of Group F with just three points, three draws, and three losses despite playing six games. Afriyie claimed that the GFA's leadership was to blame for the subpar performance and that it was a bad idea to rehire Addo. He told Oyerepa FM, "I spoke against the appointment of Otto Addo before and after the 2022 World Cup because he made it clear that he was coming in for the playoff games against Nigeria."

"After that, I argued that if we qualified, we would play in the World Cup. If we qualified, we would then play in the AFCON qualifiers in Ivory Coast." We need an experienced coach who can guide the team through all of these games because there are World Cup qualifiers coming up after that. However, Otto Addo helped us earn a spot in the 2022 World Cup. Chris Hughton was selected Otto Addo's replacement after he resigned from his position following the World Cup. Since Chris Hughton had more experience than Otto Addo, I think we could have built for the future with him. However, he was fired, and Otto Addo was reappointed.

The coach who claimed he wasn't prepared to lead the team was reappointed out of all the coaches in the globe. You cannot discount the role that Didi Dramani and George Boateng had in our World Cup qualification when he first hired them as his assistant coaches. However, after they were fired, Otto Addo was given John Paintsil and Fatau Dauda to help him. "In my opinion, the GFA made a mistake," he continued. Addo's future is still in doubt because Ghana did not make it to the 2025 AFCON. His technical papers were recently reviewed in a lengthy meeting of the GFA's Executive Council.

In March 2025, the Black Stars will play pivotal games against Chad and Madagascar in an attempt to maintain their prospects of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Source: Adomonline.com