The President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), Kwabena Yeboah, has extended valuable guidance to Black Stars head coach Otto Addo ahead of the team’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Mali and the Central African Republic.
Returning to Ghana for his second stint as head coach, Addo faces the task of rebuilding and leading the team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
At a press briefing for the squad unveiling, Yeboah emphasized Addo’s growth in handling diverse opinions and criticisms from the Ghanaian public.
“You are the official coach but the real coaches are here. So the criticisms will come in. Some will be caustic. Some will be very vitriolic but in all that, just relax and understand that as journalists, we mean well,” Yeboah advised.
He further emphasized, “Don’t take the criticisms personally but they will come in fast and thick. Just understand that we are in this together and we all want to see the good of the team.”
The Black Stars are set to face Mali on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako in the third round of qualifying for the Canada and USA World Cup. Four days later, the team will return to Ghana for the fourth-round match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium against the Central African Republic.
Ghana opened its qualifying campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Madagascar in Kumasi before losing by the same scoreline to Comoros in the second group game. Ghana currently sits fourth in Group I with three points, three behind leaders Comoros.
