Ghana coach Otto Addo has addressed critics following the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Despite presiding over one of the team’s worst qualification campaigns, Addo stopped short of apologizing for the poor performances, instead opting to justify the results while defending his credentials.
Ghana managed just three points from five matches, confirming their elimination before their final qualifier against Niger in Accra on Monday. The team’s hopes were dashed last Friday when they surrendered a 1-0 lead to draw 1-1 with Angola, leaving the Palancas Negras unbeaten in the qualifiers.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Niger clash, Addo cited his coaching background as proof of his capabilities.
“I trained under [Matthias] Sammer. I trained under [Jürgen] Klopp; I was assistant to Edin Terzić, who was Dortmund’s head coach,” he said.
Acknowledging the criticism, Addo added, “They [Sammer, Klopp, and Terzić] are also critical of some things, but it holds much more value when someone like Klopp says, ‘this or that,’ than somebody else from anywhere saying, ‘blah blah, this is bad.’”
While admitting that his record with the Black Stars was below par, he stated, “People can judge me by my results, which were not good.”
Calls for Addo’s resignation have grown louder in the wake of the team’s elimination. However, despite the public outcry, the coach appears to have retained the backing of the Ghana Football Association’s top hierarchy, who have yet to indicate any immediate changes to the coaching setup.
The Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the AFCON marks the first time Ghana will miss the tournament since 2004, further deepening concerns about the team’s direction and performance.
