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The Ghana Football Association (GFA) dismissed Otto Addo as head coach of the Black Stars on Tuesday, a decision that came into effect immediately and left the national team without a manager just over 70 days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Official Statement Confirms Departure
The GFA issued a formal statement to announce the decision. “The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have parted ways with the Head Coach of the senior men’s national team (Black Stars), Otto Addo effective immediately,” the statement read.
The announcement followed a 2–1 defeat to Germany in Stuttgart during a pre-tournament friendly. This loss came shortly after the Black Stars suffered a heavy 5–1 defeat in Austria. Consequently, the team recorded four consecutive friendly losses leading up to the World Cup.
Addo’s Second Spell in Charge
Otto Addo, a former Borussia Dortmund player, began his second stint as Ghana head coach in March 2024. The 50-year-old previously led the Black Stars at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where the team secured a 3–2 victory over South Korea but exited at the group stage following defeats to Portugal and Uruguay.
During his second tenure, Addo recorded eight wins and nine defeats in 22 matches. Furthermore, he failed to qualify Ghana for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations despite having Premier League players Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus available in his squad.
World Cup Preparations in Disarray
Ghana will make their fifth World Cup appearance when the tournament begins in June. The Black Stars have been drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, England, and Panama.
The timing of the dismissal creates significant challenges for the national team. With the World Cup kickoff approaching, the GFA must now identify and appoint a new head coach to prepare the squad for the tournament.
