Ghanaian football manager, Otto Addo, who stepped down due to his inability to achieve satisfactory results during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, has been appointed as the new coach of the Ghanaian national team, the Black Stars. He was identified as the preferred candidate by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
At the age of 47, he returns to lead Ghana’s national team, 15 months after managing the team during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. During this tournament, the former Ghanaian footballer and his team failed to advance to the knockout stages, winning only one match.
Subsequently, Otto Addo was replaced by Chris Hughton, who led the team during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Mr. Hughton was also sacked after facing difficulties with Ghana, which returned home early without winning a match in the recent AFCON.
Finally, the GFA announced on Friday that Addo would take over the reins of the Black Stars with a 34-month contract, with a two-year extension option.
Currently a member of the coaching staff at Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, Addo impressed the five-person committee during a rigorous interview process.
“Otto stood out and was highly rated by the selection committee, hence our decision,” said GFA president Simeon-Okraku.
Addo will be released from his duties at Dortmund to take charge of Ghana during this month’s FIFA match days, before returning to Germany. He will then permanently leave the Bundesliga club in May to start his new role with the four-time African champions. “The committee was extremely pleased with Otto’s performance, which is why we recommended him to the Executive Council for approval,” Okraku added.
Coach Addo is now faced with the challenge of restoring the nation’s success after a drought of over 40 years without winning the Africa Cup of Nations.
