Ghana: Otto Addo’s Difficult Return to the Head of the Black Stars
A return far from expectations
Otto Addo’s second term at the helm of the Black Stars of Ghana is not going as planned. Returning with the hope of turning around a struggling team, Addo is struggling to find the solution. With just two games left in the qualifiers for the 2025 AFCON, Ghana has only collected two points, a worrying situation for both the team and its coach.
Disappointing results for Ghana
Ghana’s recent performances in the Africa Cup of Nations are worrying. The country, four-time African champions, failed to shine in the last two editions in 2021 and 2023. In search of a fifth star since 1982, the Black Stars are even at risk of not qualifying for the 2025 edition, a first since 2004, thus marking a possible dramatic turning point in the recent history of Ghanaian football.
Otto Addo under pressure, but remains confident
The spectre of dismissal
Otto Addo knows he has a high stakes. With a meager record of 3 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws since his return in March, the coach is clearly under pressure. If he does not qualify for the 2025 AFCON, his job could be in jeopardy as early as November. Addo, however, expressed optimism, saying: “It is not over yet. Mathematically, there is still a chance.” However, the mistakes in recent games, especially against Sudan, haunt him: “We should have won, especially at home.”
Conclusion: An uncertain future for Addo and the Black Stars
Far from the success of his first stint and qualification for the 2022 World Cup, Otto Addo is now leading a struggling Ghana. With crucial matches to come against Angola and Niger, the future of the Black Stars and that of Addo are closely linked. The team must imperatively change its dynamic if it wants to avoid a historic absence from the CAN, an outcome that would be fatal for the coach.
