Ghana coach Otto Addo has taken responsibility for his team’s poor first-half performance against the Central African Republic (CAR) in their World Cup qualifying match.
On Monday night, the Black Stars faced the Wild Beasts in their fourth match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at the Baba Yara Stadium. Despite taking an early lead through Jordan Ayew, Ghana found themselves trailing 2-1 at halftime due to two goals from Louis Mafouta.
Addo highlighted his players’ struggles with ball control during the first half but emphasized that their eventual 4-3 victory was well-deserved. “We had problems in the first half controlling the ball and finding solutions upfront. I take the blame,” Addo told the press after the game.
Reflecting on his team’s preparation, Addo admitted, “Maybe I wanted us to do too much though we had few days of training.” Despite these challenges, he made crucial adjustments in the second half that helped secure the win. “I adjusted in the second half and deserved to win,” he added.
Ghana’s victory places them at the top of Group I, with nine points from four games. They hold a three-point lead over Madagascar and Comoros, who have each played one game less. This crucial win strengthens Ghana’s position in the race for the 2026 World Cup.